Dimapur District Congress Committee alleges discrepancies in
Dimapur District Congress Committee alleges discrepancies in food distribution system
The Dimapur District Congress Committee has alleged alarming financial and logistical discrepancies in Nagaland’s Food and Civil Supplies department and demanded clarification within seven days
DIMAPUR — The Dimapur District Congress
Committee (DCC) has alleged alarming financial and logistical discrepancies in
Nagaland’s Food and Civil Supplies department and demanded clarification within
seven days.
The allegations were made following filing of Right to
Information (RTI) application, which revealed systemic negligence and lack of
accountability in the distribution of essential commodities, stated an update
from Dimapur DCC.
On the ‘tide-over rice mismanagement,’ DCC claimed that Nagaland
receives 38.72 lakh kg (3,872.72 MT) of tide-over rice monthly amounting to INR
4.64 crore annually. To their dismay, the deputy director and APIO of the
department admitted in their RTI reply that no utilisation certificates or
records were maintained claiming that distribution is managed by ‘stockists’
who retain receipts.
Stating that the blatant outsourcing of responsibility
raises grave concerns, it questioned how a 38 lakh kg of rice vanish monthly?
It stated that department’s apathy toward transparency violated the National
Food Security Act (NFSA) and deprived citizens of their rightful
entitlements.
On superior kerosene oil (SKO) disappearance, DCC claimed
that in 2023, the state was allocated 12.60 lakh litres (1,260 KL) of kerosene,
while the quarterly allocation was enhanced to 404 KL from 2024. It alleged
that public reported ‘near-zero accessibility.’ In this regard, it questioned
as to where the subsidised kerosene was diverted.
On PDS sugar, it stated that monthly allocation for Priority
Household (PHH) category was 11,315 quintals (13.578 million kg annually),
while the monthly allocation for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) category was of
875 quintals (1.05 million kg annually).
It alleged that despite huge allocations, no sugar reaches
beneficiaries, suggesting large-scale diversion to black markets.
It stated that the DCC officials conducted extensive surveys
across villages and towns, which exposed a stark contrast between official
reports and ground realities. It alleged that essential commodities meant for
subsidised distribution were sold illegally in open markets through politically
connected networks.
Claiming that public has been deprived of subsidised food
and fuel for years, Dimapur DCC has demanded immediate clarification from the
advisor of Food and Civil Supplies and state government. It also demanded a
forensic audit of rice, kerosene and sugar allocations since 2023 and to
conduct criminal proceedings against officials and stockists involved in
malpractice.
It further cautioned that failure to respond within seven
days would compelled Dimapur DCC to pursue legal action and mobilise public
protests.
