On 15th June, 2010, when it was clear that that FCI would face an acute shortage of storage space, FCI CMD Shiraj Hussein sent a note to the food secretary.
Professor MS Swaminathan, the father of India’s green revolution, says this suggestion is suicidal.
"Handing over food security issues like purchase, storage to private sector etc, is a recipe for national disaster. It will lead to chaos; it will lead to food riot. It will be the greatest harm done to the people of the country," said Agricultural scientist Prof M S Swaminathan.
The FCI was set up in 1964 and has crucial duties: it must safeguard the interests of the farmers, feed a billion plus people, protect and stabilise prices against global fluctuations and maintain a buffer stock.
The RTI revelation has provided an idea of the government mindset about India’s food security. The CMD says no decision has been taken on this rather contentious idea to outsource India’s food security. The FCI should take reports generated by corporate lobbies with skepticism.