Dimapur, Nov. 2 (EMN): The directorate of Food and Civil Supplies on Wednesday cautioned that any village fair price shops (FPS) not adhering to the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 would be terminated and be replaced by capable individual to look after the fair price shop.
The department has issued this order as it observed that many village council fair price shops (FPS) are not adhering to the prescribed norms of the National Food Security Act 2013 but performing their duty as per the council’s decision including “fixing of rate and scale of issue.”
It, therefore, stated that any village council fair price shop found not adhering to the guidelines of NFSA 2013 would be terminated henceforth and appoint capable individual/ person to look after the fair price shop.
In pursuance to the directive of the office of the assistant director of Food and Civil Supplies, the Dimapur Ward-21 Welfare Committee has directed all fair price shops (FPS) within its jurisdiction to operate/open their respective unit for at least 15 days in a month in order to facilitate the beneficiaries in collecting their due shares.
The committee convenor, Jonah D Achumi, and the joint secretary, Sashitemjen, stated that operating the FPS unit for just 2 or 3 days in a month has resulted in tightening up the situation where instances of beneficiaries not being able to collect their shares were reported.
“It has also been alleged that beneficiaries are not receiving the full benefits to which they are entitled to (5 kg per head under the PHH category) as some FPS are withholding 1 kg and giving the beneficiaries only 4 kg per head. In addition to it, reports of FPS units turning down backlog shares has also been received,” the committee stated.
In this regard, it requested of the units to stop engaging in such practices and uphold the correct standards by disbursing due benefits and entertain the backlog shares to the beneficiaries.
It mentioned that the circular was issued in response to the complaints received from various public sources and not from a personal stand-point or with an intention to harm and malign any FPS Unit under Ward-21 but for the general convenience of the public. The committee expressed hope that those running the FPS units would positively heed to the circular and do the needful to fix any anomalies in everyone's best interest.