Kohima, July 31 (MExN): A Citizen Rights Awareness Programme was conducted at SBCK High School, Bayavu, Sephuzou Youth Fellowship, Kohima on July 30.
According to a press release, a team consisting of Kohima Law College LL.B Final Year students and led by Professor-in-Charge Kezhokhoto Savi, created awareness amongst the public on topics including National Food Security Act, Lokayukta, Food Safety & Standard Act, Consumer Rights, Child Rights Protection, Environment Protection, Right to Information Act (RTI) and Human Rights.
While presenting on National Food Security Act 2013, the team clarified the information of the rate of wheat given by DC Kohima as Rs.3 per kg as wrong. No beneficiaries either AAY or Priority Household (PHH) would be charged more than Rs.3 per kg for rice and Rs.2 per kg for wheat, the release stated.
National Food Security Act is an act of the Parliament of India which aims to provide subsidized food grains to two-thirds of India’s 1.2 Billion population. The Act also covers the mid-day meal scheme, integrated child development services and recognizes maternity entitlements.
The Act provides for coverage of up to 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of urban population for receiving subsidized foodgrains.
According to the release, beneficiaries of AAY would get 35kg of food grains per month and the eligible persons of Priority Household would be entitled to get 5kgs of food grains per person per month at subsidized prices where ‘Rice’ can be obtained at Rs.3 per kg, wheat at Rs.2 per kg and flours at Rs1 per kg.
This Act has a special focus on the nutritional support to women and children. Pregnant women and lactating mothers would be entitled to receive maternity benefit of not less than Rs.6000, it informed.
It is the duty of the state government to take delivery of food grains from the concerned department of central government. The State government shall appoint for each district a redressal officer for expeditious and effective redressal of grievances of the aggrieved persons in matters relating to district wise distributing of food grains under this Act.
After a delay of almost three years the Govt. of Nagaland could implement the national food security act for Dimapur and Kohima “with a commitment that it would soon be implemented in all districts”, the release stated. “This is the Act that the people have waited for long and we now hope that the state government would not fail to fully implement this “National Food Security Act 2013”, as this if and when implemented properly will hugely uplift the general mass specially the weaker section in the state,” it maintained.
For any consumer grievances or query dial Nagaland State Consumer Helpline Toll Free No. 1800-345-3701 during the office working hours.
.JPG)
