The Department of Food and Public Distribution successfully organizes Iconic Week Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav from 15-21 November

The Department of Food and Public Distribution under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution commemorated and celebrated 75 years of India’s Independence as the Iconic Week ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ from November 15, 2021 till November 21, 2021.

Several activities were organised round the week to honour the essence of united India. However, various organisations under the Department will continue to organise activities throughout the year.

On the first day of celebration, the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Mr. Piyush Goyal virtually inaugurated the office building, Divisional Office Hubballi in Karnataka and Food Security Museum at Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu along with a Photo Exhibition.

Mr. Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister #inaugurated FCI’s own divisional office at Hubballi in #Karnataka a testimony of the Govt to create resilient infrastructure for food security. #FCI #Food@PiyushGoyalOffc @AmritMahotsav @fooddeptgoi @Secretary_DFPD @PIB_India

— Food Corporation (@FCI_India) November 15, 2021

Mr. Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister #inaugurated the first food #Museum at #Thanjavur. It is the first Museum themed at food security.#FCI #Food@PiyushGoyalOffc @AmritMahotsav @fooddeptgoi @PIB_India @PMOIndia @Secretary_DFPD

— Food Corporation (@FCI_India) November 15, 2021

In his address, he said, “Apart from working on various aspects of Food Security maintenance in our country, I am happy to note that they are equally indulgent in reaching out to people and making them known among stakeholders through various events, most notable being the celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.”

Minister of State (MoS) for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Mr. Ashwini Kumar Choubey and Minister of State (MoS) for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Rural Development, Ms. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti also virtually attended the event.

In another programme, Mr. Goyal virtually inaugurated 50th Convocation Ceremony of National Sugar Institute, Kanpur on November 16, 2021 as a part of celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration.

“The Sugar industry is the backbone of rural economy & as experts of Sugar Industry you are crucial to bring Aatmanirbharta to farmers, villages & nation,” he told the students during the address.

Minister of State (MoS) for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Rural Development, Ms. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti also physically attended the event in Kanpur.

Hon’ble Minister of Commerce & Industries, Textiles, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution addresses 50th Convocation of National Sugar Institute. Calls upon the students to gear up for taking up challenges before sugar industry & to innovate value added products.

— NSI_Sugar (@nsi_sugar) November 17, 2021

50^th Convocation of National Sugar Institute graced by Hon’ble Minister of Commerce & Industries, Textiles, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Hon’ble Minister of State, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Rural Development.

— NSI_Sugar (@nsi_sugar) November 16, 2021

During his maiden visit to North-East as a part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebration, Mr. Goyal announced setting up a mega handloom cluster at Olympic silver medalist Saikohm Mirabai Chanu’s native village in Manipur’s Imphal East district. The estimated cost of mega handloom cluster is Rs 30 crore and will be established under the National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP).

Inaugurated the thematic exhibition at City Convention Center as part of Amrit Mahotsav of Azadi in Imphal and distributed Artisan Identity Card, Yarn Passbook and Toolkit to the artisans.

We will set up a mega handloom cluster in the native village of Olympic winner Mirabai Chanu.

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) November 20, 2021

He also announced setting up of a handloom and handicraft village at Moirang in Bishnupur district, where the INA hoisted the tricolor flag for the first time in Indian soil. It will pay befitting tribute to the freedom fighters, particularly to the soldiers of the INA, he said.

Mr. Goyal made these announcements during the inauguration ceremony of a Thematic Exhibition of Crafts organized jointly by Development Commissioner (Handicraft) of Manipur government and Union Ministry of Textiles in Imphal.

He attended the ‘Janajati Gaurav Divas’ under the Iconic Week in Manipur and Guwahati.

Participated in the Tribal Pride Day program organized at Kalyan Ashram in Manipur as part of the week-long celebrations to commemorate the birthday of Lord Birsa Munda ji.

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) November 20, 2021

Addressed a program organized by Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram in Guwahati.

This organization is playing a very important role in improving the lives of the forest dwellers of the country and our brothers living there.

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) November 21, 2021

Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mr. Ashwini Kumar Choubey also participated in several activities during the weeklong celebration.

He launched a short film on Procurement operations including DBT operations while attending a webinar on procurement operations and DBT.

Launched a short film on DBT and procurement operations under #AzadikaAmritMahotsav at @FCI_India HQ. It is always the endeavor of the government that the benefit of MSP should reach more farmers of paddy and wheat in each state, especially those who are small and marginal farmers(1/5)

- Ashwini Kr. Choubey November 16, 2021

Mr. Choubey also visited Bihar where he attended programs on ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.’

He also inaugurated 50,000 MTs Modern Rail-linked Grand Silo at Changsari, Assam. Speaking on the occasion he said, it is a great initiative to build such a grand SILO in Assam for the storage of food grains and its sustainability.

Mr. Choubey ingugrated Food Corporation of India’s (FCI) first state-of-art Quality Control laboratory for in house testing of food grain samples in Gurugram.

Mr. Ashwini Kumar Choubey inaugurated Food Corporation of India’s first state of art laboratory in Gurugram @fooddeptgoi @FCI_India @Secretary_DFPD

— PIB India_Consumer_Food (@PIBConsumerFood) November 20, 2021

In addition, other activities were organised by various divisions of DFPD.

A field visit to Fair Price Shops in Uttar Pradesh was organised by DFPD for journalists and media persons of Delhi. The journalists were educated on various activities of FCI, procurement and how Public Distribution System is being done.

A webinar on ‘India’s Journey in PDS Reforms to ensure Food Security’ was organised in association with United Nations World Food Programme. High level experts participated in the webinar and deliberated upon the Journey of technology based PDS reforms in India, India’s experience in ensuring food-security during COVID-19 crisis, Supply chain reforms & innovations for addressing food wastage and storage losses and Role of Operations Research, Artificial intelligence, and other new technologies in transformation of TPDS.

Another webinar on Interaction with Farmers, Self Help Groups on ‘Best Practices in Sugarcane Farming’ was organised. DFPD made direct dialogue with sugarcane farmers emphasising on ‘Best Practices in Sugarcane Farming’. Also, Sugar mills were asked to produce more ethanol for better cash flow thereby ensuring sustainable industry. Farmers shared their best practices like use of high yielding varieties, drip irrigation, soil health improvement etc. with the department.

As a part of ‘AzadiKaAmritMahotsav’celebrations, DFPD made direct dialogue with sugarcane farmers @FCI_India @fooddeptgoi @subodhias @Secretary_DFPD @PiyushGoyalOffc

— PIB India_Consumer_Food (@PIBConsumerFood) November 18, 2021

Another interaction on the benefit of e-NWR and on advantage of warehouses registration was organised. Over 120 participants attended the webinar. During the event, the division shared that registration fees with WDRA substantially reduced to Rs. 500 for FPOs/PACS/SHGs as compared to Rs. 5000 to Rs. 30,000/- for other conventional warehouses.

Apart from virtual events, physical events were also organised. An awareness generation programme for farmers on efficient storage and quality control was organised in which 30 farmers participated. The event was organised by Indian Grain Management and Research Institute (IGMRI), Hapur. The theme of the programme was to share the role of the department in food security management in last 75 years in the country, various refractions of foodgrains and importance of fortified rice.

As part of the Iconic Week of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav IGMRI, Hapur, organized an awareness program

on the “Role of Dept. of Food & PD and importance of the fortified rice” for the farmers at the Krishi

Vigyan Kendra, Hapur on 17.11.2021.

— @FoodDeptGOI (@fooddeptgoi) November 18, 2021

Also, NFSA division organised a programme under Iconic Week of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava at Varansi. The awareness programme targeted women and children and sensitised the participants about the importance of fortified rice.

Centre spreads awareness among women in Varanasi on nutrition and fortified rice under AzadiKaAmritMahotsav @fooddeptgoi @FCI_India @Secretary_DFPD @subodhias @PiyushGoyalOffc

— PIB India_Consumer_Food (@PIBConsumerFood) November 19, 2021

Apart from above mentioned celebration, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has planned 624 programmes in revenue districts in the country of which nearly 140 programmes have already been conducted and remaining will be organised during the year.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.