Closure of Food and Nutrition Board (FNB)

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-20052024-254267 EXTRAORDINARY PART I-Section 1 PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 133] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, MAY 20, 2024/VAISAKHA 30, 1946 MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 20th May, 2024 F.No. NA-39/10/2024-NUTRITION ADMN.-Whereas Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) was set up in 1964 under the Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Food) and was later transferred to the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 1993 with all the powers of a Central Government Department. Food and Nutrition Board, was a technical wing of the Ministry with a countrywide set-up at the Centre having four Regional Offices and four Quality Control Laboratories (QCL) located at Faridabad, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai with 43 Community Food and Nutrition Extension Units (CFNEUs) located in 30 States/UTs. FNB Headquarter, through its four Regional Offices, provided the technical as well as logistic support for the functioning of CFNEUs which conducted Nutrition Extension programmes for the Community. Whereas, the report prepared by Principal Economic Adviser (Pr.EA) to the Government of India in November, 2020 on Rationalization of Government Bodies recommended closing down the FNB. Whereas, in compliance of the decision taken by the Cabinet in its meeting held on 06.04.2023, the Ministry has taken the following action:- i. Out of 147 employees of FNB, 33 employees opted and were allowed voluntary retirement under Special Voluntary Retirement Scheme (SVRS). Further, 7 Group 'A' technical officers of FNB have been sent on deemed deputation to NIPCCD for Nutrition Vertical while 61 Group 'B'& Group 'C' Technical Staff of FNB have been sent on deemed deputation to The Food Corporation of India. The remaining 46 Non- Technical Staff have been placed on the rolls of Surplus Cell created in the Ministry. ii. Three CFNEUs located at Mumbai, Jaipur and Bhubaneswar have been transferred to Directorate of Estate, under MoHUA. iii. Further, four immovable properties located at Faridabad, Chennai, Navi Mumbai and Kolkata are under process for transfer. Out of these four properties, Central Food Testing Laboratory (CFTL), Faridabad and Regional Food Testing Laboratory (RFTL), Chennai are owned by FNB/Ministry and are being transferred to FCI/ Department of Food and Public Distribution. While, RFTL, Navi Mumbai and RFTL, West Bengal are leased properties and will be leased out to FCI/ Department of Food and Public Distribution after obtaining NOC from States of Maharashtra and West Bengal. All three RFTL and one CFTL have been handed over to FCI on 'as is where is' basis. Whereas the activities of the Food and Nutrition Board have been closed vide Gazette Notification dated 16.06.2021. Whereas, the dissolution/closure of FNB have been approved vide MWCD order No. NA-39/9/2020/ NUTRITION ADMN(e-87816) dated 30.11.2023. In view of the above, FNB stands closed w.e.f. 01.12.2023. This notification issues with the approval of the Competent Authority in the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India. PALLAVI AGARWAL, Jt. Secy.