Center launches mobile app to resolve complaints of rice mill owners

New Delhi| Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Prahlad Joshi launched the grievance redressal portal of Food Corporation of India (FCI) for rice millers. This new portal aims to increase transparency and accountability in addressing the concerns of rice millers. Launching the app, Minister Joshi said that setting up an effective grievance redressal mechanism is the top priority.

The app allows rice millers to register their complaints directly. Once a complaint is filed, a three-member team will be sent to investigate within three days, which will negotiate with the millers and recommend a solution within the same period.

If rice millers remain dissatisfied, their complaints will be referred to higher authorities for further review. “All complaints will be addressed in a transparent manner with a prompt, time-bound resolution process, which aims to resolve them within seven days”, Joshi stressed. The Field Response Team will be on the spot within three days to ensure prompt action”

The minister said that in every cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes information about the existing grievance redressal mechanism and directed the ministry to give priority to grievance redressal for both farmers and mill owners. “The Prime Minister also tells us how to make the grievance redressal process more friendly to farmers and consumers”, Joshi said

Reaffirming the government’s support for farmers, he said rice procurement will proceed as per the commitment. “By yesterday, our rice lifting had reached around 4.5 lakh metric tones and today we are on track to cross 5 lakh metric tones”, the Union minister said

During the launch, Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution highlighted that FCI buys about 550 lakh metric tones of rice annually. To streamline responses on the app, a nodal officer or quick response team will be randomly assigned in each case, who will conduct inquiries at the ground level. The app will also use geofencing technology to track mobile teams. In cases where mill owners remain dissatisfied, senior officials will be called to resolve the matter.