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Dimapur, May 20 (EMN): Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) has appealed to the state government agencies to be more fair and honest in the distribution of food grains to the beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, which would be of great food relief to the citizens of the state especially the poorer sections during the total lockdown in tackling the pandemic.
NVCO president, Kezhokhoto Savi, stated that the department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, government of India, has recently decided to allocate 5 kg of food grains free of cost per person per month to nearly 79.88 crore beneficiaries under the NFSA (AAY, PHH and DBT) over and above the NFSA allocation for a period of two months namely May and June.
Savi further stated that the above allocation would be in addition to the regular monthly allocation under the NFSA. Despite of not having Food Commission in the state, the NVCO sincerely appealed to all the agencies who are dealing with the distribution of food grains to be fair in order to ensure food security to the citizens of the state especially the poorer section in this season of pandemic. The maximum sufferers according to Savi included daily wage earner, labourers, business community, private job holders etc.
He explained that the households covered under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) would be entitled to 35 kg of food grains per month. During the official launching programme (NFSA) on June 27, 2016, Savi has quoted the director of Food and Civil Supplies, government of Nagaland as saying, “Today, under the PHH we have 2,37,434 households with an increase of 44,464 household with a female member as the head of the family in the PHH ration card covering 11,93,922 individual beneficiaries.” He also mentioned that together with the 2,12,034 AAY beneficiaries, the department would be covering altogether 14,05,956 beneficiaries out of the state’s total of 19,78,502 as per 2011.
He added that pregnant and lactating women would be entitled to free meals during pregnancy and six months after child birth. They would also receive maternity benefit of at least INR 6000. It included mid-day meal scheme, integrated child development services scheme and this Act is not just a scheme but a law in which the poor families, the lactating mothers and the children could claim the schemes as a right if their entitlement are not received, Savi added.
In case of non supply of entitled food grains or meals, Savi informed that the beneficiaries would receive food security allowance and added the Act aims to uplift the general mass especially the weaker section in the state.
Savi also shared his concern over excessive/ exorbitant rate of commodities charged upon the beneficiaries during the recent meeting of District Price Monitoring Committee held at the official chamber of the deputy commissioner, Kohima. He further requested to all wards/ panchayats/ village councils/ fair price shops etc. to strictly follow the rate and quantity as per the Act.