NPRAAF urges social welfare dept to implement ICDS strictly
DIMAPUR, JULY 4 (MExN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) has appealed the Department of Social Welfare, Nagaland to strictly implement all the flagship programme under Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) and National Food Security Act (NFSA) at the subsidized price not exceeding Rs 2/- per kilo for wheat, and Rupees 1/- per kilo for coarse grains and Rs 3/- for rice.
Information and Publicity cell, NPRAAF in a press statement revealed that since Nagas do not consume wheat, the Government of India (GoI) has converted wheat into rice over and above its share of rice.
The GoI under the Ministry of Women and Child Development has enhanced the quantity of rice supply from 4061 Metric Ton (MTs) to 10,000 (converted from wheat) MTs in just one quarter of four quarter allocation annually to Nagaland, as per the letter issued by Ministry of Women and Child Development to various states, under the signature of Manoj Kumar, Under Secretary GoI dated 5th April 2018.
In view of this, there should be sufficient rice to be distributed to the targeted beneficiaries adequately.
NPRAAF also appealed to social welfare department to implement all schemes under ICDS strictly, adhering to the GoI guidelines.
It reminded the department of the Supreme Court judgment in 2011 which held that, "The supplier is required to provide fine mix of all kinds of ingredients including the revised of proteins and calories, to the precise level, in fact, the level of precision is earmarked for each kind of food. The concept behind the same cannot be permitted to be demonized by referring to it as food prepared by "automated machines."
The procedure adopted is necessary to ensure that there is "zero infection" in the food going to be consumed by infants, from age group of 6 months to 3 years and pregnant and lactating mothers, it said.
The GoI, vide letter No. 5(25)2010-tech, dated 15.03.2012, communicated to the state govt that, safety standards should be strictly followed while providing Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) and that it is necessary to take adequate precaution and ensure that any food supplied through the ICDS system is safe and nutritious. It also emphasized on the need to be vigilant and book those violating food safety and standards and taken to task.
Further, in the light of the need for procurement of supplementary nutrition food for health safety of lactating mother and infant child and in accordance with the guidelines of GoI and judgment of apex court, the Ministry of Women And Child Development issued direction to all state government that only "bonafide manufacturer" who fulfills the norms and standard laid down in the policy of GoI dated 24.02.2009 can be considered for the supply of micro-nutrient fortified food.
However, the NPRAAF lamented that the department has not followed the Supreme Court direction nor adhered to GoI guidelines in awarding the contracts, which should invite persecution under the law. NPRAAF also appealed to social welfare department to make good use of NSAP fund to help the old age, handicapped and the poor.
