Parliament Question: Merger of Movement Cadre in FCI

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1665 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29" JULY, 2026 MERGER OF MOVEMENT CADRE IN FCI 1665 SHRI MUKESHKUMAR CHANDRAKAANT DALAL: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a) whether various departmental and external expert committees have recommended merger of the Movement Cadre in Food Corporation of India (FCI) with other cadres considering it irrelevant in the present functional context; (b) if so, whether such merger is expected to result in significant financial and administrative benefits to FCI and if so, the details thereof; (c) the reasons for not implementing these recommendations despite being aware of such benefits for several years; and (d) whether any time-bound action plan has been prepared to implement these recommendations and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA) (a) to (d): The merger of the Movement Cadre with other cadres was recommended by an Internal Committee. However, due to the pendency of consultations with the Staff Union, the recommendation regarding cadre merger could not be finalized. Meanwhile, the Staff Strength Audit Report submitted by external agency, M/s Centre for Good Governance (CGG), was also received, which inter alia, also covered cadre merger in its recommendations.However, before accepting the report of the external committee for implementation of its recommendations, an Executive Director (ED)-level Committee was constituted to examine all the recommendations of the external committee, including the matter of merger of the Movement cadre. This internal committee concluded that the merger of the Movement Cadre with other cadres would not be advisable, considering the complexities relating to seniority, promotional avenues, and the possibility of litigation. KRKKK