Govt sets up committee to create awareness on PDS

Staff Reporter DIMAPUR, AUGUST 20 THE government has set up a ‘consultative committee’ for Nagaland to create awareness on public distribution system (PDS). The concept is to protect the interest of producers and consumers as well as to ‘advice’ the Food Corporation of India (FCI) on various matters relating to procurement of food grain, storage and distribution. Nominated by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public distribution, the committee has been formed in all other states and union territories of India. Briefing media persons on Wednesday at Hotel Saramati in Dimapur, committee members Tangit Imsong and H Kisheto Chishi said that they will function to ensure procurement and distribution of food grain, quality and storage of food grain, transit and storage losses, as well as act as an interface of the FCI with the state government. They will also be functioning in affairs of targeted public distribution systems such as the schemes Above Poverty Line (APL), Below Poverty Line (BPL), Annapurna, Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and various welfare schemes being operated by government. Bringing to light policy of the ministry, the members maintained that the plans were in regard to welfare schemes under BPL, APL, AAY and Annapurna allotted for Nagaland in all 11 districts. With regard to the schemes available, Kisheto mentioned that other than the 3 schemes, Annapurna is allotted after every 6 months free of cost to the aged people above 65 years of age with 10 kg/person of rice. With the first phase of inspection being carried out in Dimapur districts in collaboration with Food & Civil Supply department, the committee will be visiting other districts too. The committee also invited citizens to bring in any complaints concerning quality of food grains or malpractices in distribution to their notice. Such matters will be taken up with the higher authorities, they said. Generating awareness on the schemes, the committee has appealed beneficiaries to avail the facilities. It may be noted that the MP (Lok Sabha) of the state is the chairman of the committee who will look into its affair. The GOI appoints stockers, sub-stockers, and fair price shops to reach the beneficiaries which are dealt by Food & Civil Supply, the agencies for distribution. Total allocation for Nagaland 2014 RICE BPL- 21590 Quintal/month APL- 43830 Quintal /month AAY-13380 Quintal/month ANNAPURNA- 4036.20 Quintal in every six months (new allocation has not been made since financial year 2014. It applies to aged people above 65 years who will receive 10 kg/person) WHEAT BPL- 5170 Quintal APL- 18500 Quintal AAY-3260 Quintal Welfare institution & Hostel- 1040 quintal rice every 6 month and 446 quintal of wheat SC, ST, OBC Hostel- 1880.75 quintal rice every month Mid Day Meal (Education Department) - 14607.40 quintal (quarterly) Wheat Base Nutrition Programme (WBNP) - 36720 quintal (quarterly) for child and women.