Dimapur, July 4 (EMN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) today appealed Social Welfare Department to strictly implement all the flagship programme under Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) and National Food Security Act ( NFSA ).
The NPRAAF information and Publicity cell, in a press release received at Eastern Mirror here today, strongly appealed the Social Welfare Department to strictly implement “all the flagship programme under wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) and National Food Security Act ( NFSA ) at the subsidized price not exceeding Rs 2 per Kg, for wheat, and Rupees 1/- per kg for coarse grains and Rice for Rupees 3”.
NPRAAF will submit a memorandum to social welfare Department in relation to improvement in dispensation of ICDS/ programme at the larger interest of the state and the targeted beneficiaries, the release stated.
“Since Nagas do not consume Wheat the Govt. of India has converted wheat into rice over and above its share of rice. In view of it there should be sufficient Rice to distribute to the targeted beneficiaries,” the NPRAAF stated.
In this regard, the forum stated that the Government of India, Under Women and Child Development has also further enhanced the quantity of Rice to the state from 4061 Metric Ton (MTs) to 5000 +5000 (converted from wheat) MTs of Rice just in one quarter of four quarter allocation annually to Nagaland according to the letter issued by Ministry of
Women and Child Development to various States, under the signature of Manoj Kumar Under Secretary Govt. of India, Dated 5th April 2018.
“Therefore the Govt. of Nagaland Should be in a position to distribute the food adequately,” stated the release.
While calling for strict implementation of all schemes Under ICDS adhering to the government of India guidelines, the NPRAAF reminded the department concerned of “Hon’ble supreme court judgement in 2011 9 SSC 340” that ruled “the supplier is required to provide fine mix of all kinds of ingredients including the revised of proteins and calories, to the precise level, in fact, the level of precision is earmarked for each kind of food.
“The concept behind the same cannot be permitted to be demonized by referring to it as food prepared by “automated machines” the procedure adopted is necessary to ensure that there is “zero infection” in the food going to be consumed by infants, from age group of 6 months to 3 years and pregnant and lactating mothers”, stated the release.
It also stated that the “The Govt of India, vide letter No. 5(25)2010-tech, dated 15.03.2012, communicated to state Govt that, safety standards should be strictly followed while providing Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) and that it is necessary to take adequate precaution and ensure that any food supplied through the ICDS system is safe and nutritious. It also emphasized it is necessary to be vigilant and anyone violating food safety and standards are booked and taken to task promptly”.
In the light of the need for procurement of supplementary nutrition food for health safety of lactating mother and infant child and in accordance with the guidelines of Government of India and Judgement of Apex court, the ministry of women and child development issued direction to all state government that only “bonafide manufacturer”, who fulfils the norms and standard laid down in the policy of govt. of India dated 24.02.2009. can be considered for the supply of micro-nutrient fortified food.
However, the Department has not followed the supreme court direction nor adhered to Govt of India Guidelines in awarding the contracts, which will invite persecution under the law,” the NPRAAF stated.
“The Department should not take the matter lightly but take action considering that, more than the supreme court ruling its about humanity, and must work towards fulfilling the objective of the Govt. of India in fight against malnourished mother and an infant child,” the release further stated.
