Need of a Fresh Start

Benito Z.Swu

The federal set up of the Indian Union has seen to it that it is the responsibility of the states to implement Central government policies and schemes, and also, to plug the loopholes in the system. For the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Nagaland, the various loopholes in the system can be plugged to a very great extent by computerization of the entire PDS system, which involves digitalization, online allocation, supply chain management and, very importantly, grievance redress mechanism. But, does the government really has the intent to bring in transparency? With the coming of the National Food security Act (FSA) in Nagaland, the Department of Food and Civil Supplies has the opportunity to undergo an image makeover and overlap the beating that it has been subjected to, due to its non-transparent dealings. In effect, a fresh start. An official of the F&CS Dept had this to say: “The ‘whole system’ of the Food and Civil Supplies will be streamlined for smooth functioning while ensuring transparency and accountability.” It is all the more heartening when the Superintendent of Food and Civil Supplies for Dimapur explained that although the Food and Civil Supplies was in poor light at the moment, the department was working hard to reach out to the people, and in particular, to disseminate information on the National Food Security Act so that every household is sensitized on the Act. The officials may be true to their words, but what about their political bosses. The politicians, as the in-charge of departments should be spelling out their intent. According to the Joint Secretary in the Union ministry of Food and Public Distribution, due to anomalies in the submission of reports, Nagaland has not been able to claim its share of Hill Transport Subsidy (HTS) for some years. The Joint Secretary had also said that the Union Food and Public Distribution ministry is ready to consider if Nagaland Government asks for more quantity of rice in lieu of a proportionate amount of wheat, taking into consideration the local preference for rice. By sincerely fulfilling the criteria laid down by the Union food & Public Distribution ministry, and thereby availing all the due benefits, the State Food and Civil Supplies department is that one department that can help all the people directly and earn all the goodwill and kudos of every single individual in the state. Our politicians, for their self interest, instead, become penny wise, pound foolish, and thereby the state misses out on even our due share. Ultimately, it is the common public that really bears the brunt. Union Minister of Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan, during his Nagaland visit in April this year had said that, once the Food Security Act is achieved in Nagaland, the annual total allocation of foodgrains would raise to one lakh thirty eight thousand metric tonnes, i.e. thirteen crore eighty lakh kg of foodgrains in a year. If judiciously implemented, not a single Naga should actually remain dependent for foodgrains. The use of Aadhaar card, as one understands, is to remove bogus beneficiaries and ensure benefit for bona fide persons only. Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act 2016, provides that the Central or State governments may make possession of an Aadhaar number a condition for receipt of government subsidies , benefits or services. However, the proviso to section 7 of the Aadhaar Act 2016 states that an individual who has not been assigned an Aadhaar number, shall be enrolled for Aadhaar and offered alternate and viable means of identification for receipt of subsidy, benefit or service till Aadhaar number is assigned to the individual. In other words, “No citizen will be denied any benefits for want of an Aadhaar card.” This was made very clear by the Information & Broadcasting Minister, Venkaiah Naidu, in the Rajya Sabha, just some two, three, days back. It will be very convenient for the general public of the state if the Food and Civil Supplies department educate and enlighten the people to this scenario. Also, since the abuse of this concession in the Aadhaar Act can lead to pilferage, a clear-cut directive from the department can prove to be a stitch in time which saves nine.