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People in queue at a Fair Price Shop to collect rice in Dimapur. (Morung File Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | April 22
To ensure food grain supply for a majority of households in Nagaland, the Department of Food & Civil Supplies has disbursed a total of 76,321.10 quintals or 76,32,110 kgs rice under the PHH & AAY scheme to the different districts.
Beneficiaries under Priority Household (PHH) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana(AAY) will receive 5 kgs of rice free of cost for 3 (three months- April, May and June), Director, Food and Civil Supplies informed The Morung Express. It will be distributed to beneficiaries in a phase wise manner.
This is also in conformity to the Centre’s announcement to give free 5 kg foodgrains per beneficiary and 1 kg pulses per household for three months under PMGAY scheme.
According to information gathered from the Director, “the import of food grains through Food Cooperation of India (FCI) for the state of Nagaland has not been disrupted after lockdown” and assured that there is enough stock in FCI depot to cater the food grains for the beneficiaries of the Department.
Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), Nagaland state has more than 70% of the population covered under AAY and PHH schemes. Approximately, a total of 14,03,579 beneficiaries availing the foodgrain at subsidised rate.
In Nagaland, as per the record furnished by the department, there is a total of 47,500 AAY ration card holders and 2,37,434 PHH ration card holders. As such, there are 2,09,657 persons covered under AAY and 11,93,922 under PHH. The act was launched in the state in 2016 after three years of the act was passed. Initially, the act was launched as pilot project under Kohima and Dimapur only. It was later implemented across the state.
Arrangements for distribution
With regard to how arrangements are being made for early disbursement and distribution, the official stated that, “the Department had decided to do advance lifting of both normal NFSA & Pradhan MantriGaribKalyan Anna Yojana(PM-GKAY) so that food grains will be made available in the respective PDC should the Pandemic situation escalate.”
For this, besides the Department transportation arrangement, the Police Department is assisting by providing vehicles and transporting to various districts.
It may be mentioned that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) under the aegis of the Union Food Ministry has supplied about 3.51 lakh tonne of foodgrains in North East region during the ongoing lockdown. Out of 3.51 lakh tonne of foodgrains, 1.74 lakh tonne has been provided under the Pradhan MantriGarib Anna Yojana (PMGAY), while the rest under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
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