The Centre has offered assistance to the States to setup Grain testing laboratories across the country.

After inaugurating the modernised Central Grain Analysis Laboratory in New Delhi today, the Minister of Consumer Affairs Mr. K.V Thomas said he has written a letter to the states in this regard and the process is already on.

Mr. Thomas said, the Centre has offered to financial assistance on a sharing basis. He said, the Centre has also agreed to impart trainning of the staff of State Grain Analysis laboratories.

He said, the opening of seven Quality control cells at Guwahati, Patna, Chandigarh, Jammu, Jaipur, Chennai and Ahmedabad will assist the state agencies for handling foodgrains procurement, storage and distribution.

Mr. Thomas also said the shortage of jute bags in Madhya Pradesh was due to the lack of proper assessment by the State government for the record wheat procurement in the state, He said, in November the state government assessment was for 65 lakh which was later revised by the State government to 80 lakh. Mr. Thomas said, the Centre is monitoring the situation to do the needful.

The Central Grain Analysis Laboratory inaugurated today in New Delhi is equipped with the state of the art equipments for analyzing food grain samples at faster rate with more accuracy.

The Minister of Consumer Affairs Mr. K.V Thomas also inaugurated the redesigned website of the ministry of Consumer Affair, Food & public distribution.

The minister said, all latest data and information will be put on the website for transparency and to improve efficiency.