FCI gets Rs 4,300 cr against subsidy claim of Rs 32,652 cr

The government has paid nearly Rs 4,300 crore to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) as against the food subsidy claim of Rs 32,652.43 crore of last fiscal, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.

"For the year 2012-13, provisional claim of Rs 32,652.43 crore has been received from FCI against which amount of Rs 4,295.05 crore has already been released," food minister KV Thomas said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

Thomas informed that the food ministry has approached finance ministry for additional requirement of funds. The final claim of FCI till 2011-12 has already been settled except for an amount of Rs 109.61 crore due for 2010-11, he added. The government has released Rs 33,558.25 crore as food subsidy till July in the current fiscal.

Food subsidy is released to FCI for the subsidised foodgrains distributed under public distribution system (PDS) and other welfare schemes and for keeping buffer stock.

Out of the total claims of FCI, the 95 percent claims are released on provisional basis and balance is released on the receipt of final claim from FCI.