Covid-19: Central govt introduces OMSS scheme to serve needy

Under Open Market Sales Scheme, food grains were being sold at affordable rates to NGOs engaged in relief operations for helping migrant labourers and vulnerable groups.

Hyderabad: In order to mitigate the suffering of the poor and destitute on streets arising out of the Covid induced lockdown in various parts of the country, the Central government has introduced a scheme for supply of food grains under Open Market Sales Scheme (OMSS) to Charitable and Non-Governmental Organisations engaged in relief operations and relief camps for migrant labourers and vulnerable groups.

Mr. Ashwini Kumar Gupta, General Manager (Region) Food Corporation of India (FCI) Telangana, has informed that the Central government as a one-time measure in view of the extraordinary situation prevailing due to the present pandemic that charitable trusts and NGOs running relief camps or community kitchens for providing food to the needy people may be provided food grains both rice at Rs.22 a kg and wheat at Rs.21 a kg under FCI’s OMSS which has been extended up to March 2022, according to a press release.

Accordingly, it was also decided that the district Collectors should be nodal officers for the purpose. The charitable trusts and NGOs must first approach the Collectors along with a request letters mentioning details of their organisations, purpose for which the rice will be used, quantity and depots from where they wished to lift the stocks.

The offices of Collectors will verify the credentials of the organisations and endorse the letters if the claims were genuine. Then they may deposit the money to the account of FCI regional office here.

The minimum quantity to purchase should be one tonne but there was no cap on the maximum. The organisations may mail the request letters along with the Collector’s endorsement and payment particulars to the FCI which will then direct its divisional offices to issue release orders to concerned depots.

The buyers must deposit full cost within five working days and complete lifting the stocks within 10 days for quantities between one and 10 tonnes. For above 10 tonnes, the cost must be met within 21 days and lifting the stocks within 35 days, the press release added.

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