DIMAPUR — The Against Corruption and Unabated
Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland has alleged a scam of INR 952 crore in the tide-over
rice scheme under the Food and Civil Supplies department from 2018 till date.
In a press release, the ACAUT claimed that it is in
possession of documents containing misappropriation and siphoning of rice under
the tide-over scheme.
Under the scheme, initiated in 2018 by the government of
India (GoI), Nagaland receives 3872.72 MT of rice every month to be distributed
at the rate of INR 8.30 per kg, it stated.
However, “most surprisingly, it is found that there are nil
beneficiaries in the state,” it stated.
The ACAUT also disclosed that till date, 3,17,563 MT of
tide-over rice have been received from the Food Corporation of India in the
last seven years.
“It is believed that this rice has been/is being siphoned
and sold off in the open market. As per our investigation, there’s enough proof
that all the fancy rice brands being sold in the market—purportedly imported
from different states in India—are nothing but repackaged and polished
tide-over rice meant for the state of Nagaland.
“The only rice being imported into the state is the Basmati
variety. It’s amply clear that the gullible public is being fooled into buying
their own subsidised rations at exorbitant prices,” the release stated.
The ACAUT went on to state that if one calculates the open
market price of rice at the minimal rate of INR 30 per kg, the “scam” stands at
a colossal INR 952 crore.
“It’s undoubtedly clear that the scam is not possible
without the green signal of the government at the highest level,” it asserted.
While urging the Lokayukta to register a suo moto case and
investigate the scam, the anti-corruption watchdog cautioned that failing to do
so, it would be compelled to seek legal recourse.
