A New India

"Before laying the ground work" Rohan began, taking out another stack of papers, "this is the blueprint for the Food Corporation of India. Complete blue print because having this will help the ministries to speed up the work"

Harish, as expected, raised a brow. "You've already worked out the structure?"

Rohan nodded. "Yes. We can't afford to delay this. Let me walk you through how the FCI will operate, including its hierarchy, roles, and responsibilities."

Rohan began by outlining the foundation of the FCI.

"The FCI will rest on three core pillars: procurement, storage, and distribution. This is the framework that will ensure both the stability of food prices and food security. Let me explain each in detail."

"The FCI will be responsible for purchasing food grains directly from farmers. To ensure that farmers are not exploited by market fluctuations or middlemen, we will implement a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for key staples such as wheat, rice, and pulses. These prices will be set annually, ensuring farmers receive a stable, fair price for their produce."

Rohan pointed to the procurement process outlined in the document. "Procurement centers will be established across key agricultural states, starting with Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. These centers will be staffed by Procurement Officers who will handle transactions, ensure the quality of grains, and work directly with local farmers."

Inder Kumar nodded, his interest piqued. "What's the scale we're talking about?"

Rohan replied without missing a beat. "We'll initially set up procurement centers in high-production areas and gradually expand to other states as needed. The goal is to cover every major agricultural region."

Rohan moved on to storage. "Once the grains are procured, they need to be stored safely to prevent spoilage and waste. Right now, a significant portion of our crops goes to waste due to poor storage infrastructure. The FCI will oversee the construction and management of a nationwide network of modern silos and warehouses. These facilities will be climate-controlled to preserve food for long periods."

He gestured to a map within the proposal that highlighted the strategic locations of the planned storage units.

"These storage centers will be located near key agricultural zones and along major transportation routes to ensure easy access for both procurement and distribution. Each facility will be managed by a Storage Manager, responsible for maintaining the quality of the stored food and overseeing the day-to-day operations."

Finally, Rohan addressed the distribution pillar. "Once the food is stored, it needs to be transported to areas where it's needed. The FCI will manage a national distribution network to move food grains from surplus regions to deficit areas. We'll work with the Ministry of Railways and Infrastructure to create dedicated freight corridors for transporting food."

He emphasized the efficiency of this system. "These corridors will connect procurement and storage facilities to distribution centers across the country. Each region will have Regional Distribution Managers who will coordinate the movement of food grains, ensuring that shortages are addressed quickly and efficiently."

Rohan then moved on to the organizational structure. "The FCI will be a large and complex organization, and for it to function efficiently, we need a well-defined hierarchy."

He began by outlining the leadership roles at the top.

"At the highest level, the FCI will be overseen by a Chairperson, appointed by the central government. The Chairperson will be responsible for overseeing the overall direction of the organization, ensuring that its policies align with national goals."

Rohan tapped the organizational chart he had prepared. "Below the Chairperson, we'll have a Managing Director (MD), who will handle the day-to-day operations of the FCI. The MD will report directly to the Chairperson and will be responsible for implementing the policies set by the board."

Harish Patel raised his hand, curious. "And who will make up the board?"

"The board will include representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Railways, and local government officials from key agricultural states," Rohan explained.

"We'll also include industry experts and agricultural economists to ensure we're making informed decisions."

Rohan continued down the hierarchy. "Under the MD, there will be three key departments, each led by a Director, Procurement, Storage, and Distribution. These directors will oversee the operations within their respective areas and report to the MD regularly."

Inder Kumar nodded in approval. "So, the directors will handle the specific functions of procurement, storage, and distribution?"

"Exactly," Rohan confirmed. "Under the Director of Procurement, we'll have Regional Procurement Managers for each state, and beneath them, Procurement Officers who will operate the procurement centers."

He flipped to the next page. "Similarly, under the Director of Storage, we'll have Regional Storage Managers overseeing the storage facilities in their areas, and Storage Managers will handle the individual facilities."

"And for distribution?" Vikram asked.

Rohan smiled, anticipating the question. "The Director of Distribution will manage the entire transportation network. They'll be supported by Regional Distribution Managers in each zone, who will ensure the timely movement of food grains from storage facilities to distribution hubs.

Below them will be Logistics Coordinators who will work with the Ministry of Railways and other transportation bodies to ensure smooth operations."

Leela Kapoor, the Health Minister, had been quietly listening but now raised an important point. "How will the FCI ensure transparency and efficiency? We've seen corruption in similar organizations in the past."

Rohan acknowledged her concern. "Transparency is key. We'll implement a centralized tracking system that monitors every step of the process, from procurement to storage to distribution. This system will track every ton of grain, ensuring accountability at every level.

Each facility will be audited regularly, and the data will be made available to the public to prevent any form of corruption or inefficiency."

Rohan then shifted to the role of local governments and how they would work with the FCI.

"The FCI will not operate in isolation," Rohan explained. "We'll work closely with local governments to ensure smooth operations at the grassroots level. In each region, we'll form Local Advisory Committees, which will include representatives from farmer cooperatives, local government bodies, and FCI officials.

These committees will provide feedback, address concerns, and ensure that the FCI is working in the best interests of the local communities."

"We'll also launch a farmer outreach program," Rohan said, pointing to another section of the proposal. "The FCI will work with local governments and agricultural institutions to educate farmers about how the procurement process works, how they can sell their crops to the FCI, and the benefits of doing so. We'll also provide training on improving crop yields and sustainable farming practices."

After Rohan finsihed, everyone was shocked because this was not just a draft or suggestions but a organisation that was very mature even before it's inception.

And the shocking things is Rohan did it all alone without anyone's help, as if he already knew and understood this FCI before.

Seeing everyone was silent Rohan thought about it and finally broke another news that was like a bomb exploding in the head of others.

"Even though I am sure this will be successful but considering this will be the first time, many different ministries will co-operate with each other, I hought about it a lot and decided to launch another program running with it in parallel that will change this country forever".

Still shocked and confused by so much information Menon asked

"What is it Sir?"

"Gati Shakti - National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity"