The Grievance Redressal Cell established by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has solved almost half of the problems currently being faced by food processors due to the 21-day lockdown.
“The Grievance Cell formed to resolve the micro issues being faced by the industry, to facilitate supply chain and logistics management for availability of food and medicines, had resolved 50 per cent of about 348 queries received while rest were in the pipeline,” the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
MoFPI Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal held the second video-conference on Saturday with industry associations including CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, PHDCCI, AIFPA, ICC, FINER and DICCI to seek suggestions on government interventions required to revive food processing sector post-lockdown.
During the conference, senior officials of MoFPI also informed about the various measures taken by Central and State Governments to ease the business environment and the status of issues received since the first video conference.
The Minister disclosed that the empowered committee was taking up all grievances for redressal even as steps had been taken to issue only one document for Rail movement. Further, the ministry has been following up with district officials on a daily basis to ensure easy movement of food stuff.
“The Union Minister invited suggestions from industry leaders to ensure smooth functioning of the food processing industry once the lockdown is lifted. The industry raised concerns including the need for labourers to return; starting of special trains both for goods and services as well as for bringing the labourers back; waiving off GST returns for three months or at least deferred to give breathing space to the industry; immediate liquidity crunch; working capital for procurement of agri-produce, amongst others,” the official statement added.
Badal informed that more exemptions had been issued including allowance related to agriculture machinery and truck repairs, entire chain of milk collection, mandis operated by the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), and intra and inter-state movement of Combine Harvesters.
