Food & Civil Supplies starts image remake with transparency call

Dimapur, July 29 : The tainted department of Food and Civil Supplies is apparently onto pulling up its socks to reclaim the trust of the public following a spate–but still ongoing–controversy following allegations of corruption and a irregularities. Perhaps as part of damage control, the department has begun pushing into publicity a number of public distribution initiatives such as the National Food Security Act (NFSA), among others. The ‘whole system’ of the Food & Civil Supplies will be ‘streamlined for smooth functioning while ensuring transparency and accountability,’ an official said on Friday. Amid the indictment of the department, the government’s public amenity agency is organizing its services. They are set for the National Food Security Act and ‘reach out to the beneficiaries.’ The Act was passed by the government of India in 2013 but took almost three years to be implemented in Nagaland. It was officially launched on June 27, 2016 by chief minister of Nagaland, TR Zeliang. On Friday, the superintendent of Food and Civil Supplies for Dimapur, N Jamonger Ao, interacted with media persons at his office at Bank Colony. He admitted that the department was currently not in the best of reputation. He explained that although the Food & Civil Supplies was in poor light at the moment, the department was ‘working hard to reach out to the people and in particular disseminate information on the NFSA so that every household is sensitized on the act.’ The superintendent informed that the distribution of food grains for Priority Households (PHH) will begin from the rural areas of Nuiland in Dimapur district from July 30. The rest will follow in phases. Village councils are directed to collect PHH supplies. Ao also informed that issuing PHH ration cards for urban Dimapur will commence from August 3. The Gaon Bura and chairmen are asked over to collect beneficiary cards as well. Also, Ao said that under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) an eligible beneficiary was entitled to receive 35 kilograms of rice (per ration card holder) at a subsidized price of Rs.3 per kilogram per month. Eligible beneficiaries of the PHH are entitled to 5 kilograms of rice (each member of family) at a subsidized price of Rs.3 per kilogram per month. Although the act took time to be implemented in the state, Ao said, the whole system of FCS will be ‘streamlined for smooth functioning while ensuring transparency and accountability.’ With a good section of the society oblivious of the food security act, genuine beneficiaries are missing out on availing their entitlements, he said. According to the superintendent there were more than 60 thousand beneficiaries for both the AAY and PHH. He added that food grain being provided to the public were of good quality ‘unlike people’s opinion on the quality.’