Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 16
Nagaland State Government will begin implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) from June 1, 2016 onwards. U
nion Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan made the announcement today in Dimapur at a hurriedly arranged press conference at the Nagaland Armed Police Training Centre (NAPTC), Chumukedima.
Paswan said that he met the State Chief Minister, TR Zeliang on April 15 and had a thorough discussion on the modalities for the implementation of the NFSA. According to Paswan, the CM assured to “fulfil all the pre-conditions for implementation of the Act.”
The Nagaland State government will begin executing the NFSA coverage phase-wise from June 1 starting with Kohima and Dimapur districts. From July 1, the rest of the districts will follow.
On the “pre-conditions” or criteria for implementation of the Act, which include digitisation/computerisation of the Public Distribution System for greater transparency and checking pilferage, Paswan said Ration cards would soon be seeded or linked to AADHAR.
AADHAR coverage in the state is said to have touched the 65 percent mark. For this, new Ration cards are being printed and online allocation of food grains will begin immediately.
Ensuring this and other measures of checks and balances “will monitor leakages and improve transparency in the Public Distribution System,” Paswan stated.
On quality control, Paswan asserted that the Ministry ensures that food grains allocated are totally safe, while adding that quality checks are made before dispatch.
On the prospect of Nagaland being allocated a greater proportion of rice out of the total rice-wheat allocation, Paswan informed that relaxations in the supply guidelines can be made if the State Government wishes or puts up proposal in proper format.
Paswan also made certain clarification on the Hill Transport Subsidy Scheme. At the press conference on April 15, an official of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) had reported that Nagaland state has not been availing the scheme for 3-4 years.
On the contrary, it has emerged as a case of poor documentation on the part of the State Government that resulted in the state making “unsuccessful claims.” The claims have been pending for over 20 years.
The department in concern failing to properly file ‘Utilisation Certificates’ in the prescribed format emerged as be the reason with the FCI official clarifying today that “anomalies” in filed documents translated into withholding of fund reimbursement. The accumulated amount pending amounts to over Rs 700 crore.
“A Special Task Force has been constituted to settle the Hill Transport Subsidy claims of Nagaland,” Paswan informed. The special committee will have officials from the Nagaland State government, FCI and the Government of India. The report is expected to be submitted by July 30, 2016.
