Commissioners of SC to inspect food schemes in state
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 04 2012:
Commissioners of Supreme Court of India would be visiting Manipur to inspect implementation of food schemes and construction of night shelter homes, which are being taken up with funding from the Union government.
According to reliable sources, the Commissioners would be arriving here on July 11 on a two-day visit in accordance to the Supreme Court orders under WP (C ) No.196 of 2011 on implementation of food, employment, homeless, additional ad hoc allocation of food grains in the poorest districts, computerization of PDS operation, National Food Security Bill and SECC.
These Commissioners have been appointed following an order passed by the Supreme Court on May 8, 2001 after a writ petition was filed by People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) against the Indian Government and others concerned.
Upon arrival here, the Commissioners would take stock of implementing various food schemes and submit a report to the Supreme Court.
After the recommendations furnished in the report are discussed, the Supreme Court would issue interim orders as done in earlier cases, sources disclosed.
Sources further revealed that implementation of food schemes which would come under the inspection of the visiting Commissioners include Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), National Old Age Pension Schemes (NOAPS), National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS), National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NMBS), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education or Mid Day Meals (MDMS).
All the food schemes of the Central government have been given legal entitlement according to an interim order issued by the Supreme Court on November 28, 2001 .
Accordingly, all the state governments have been entrusted to fully implement the said schemes.
Even the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Employment Act (MGNREGS), which envisages providing work to the rural people, deemed the most destitute segment of the population to improve their purchasing power and eventually alleviate their poverty has been included under the food schemes of India, sources added.
The forthcoming visit of Supreme Court Commissioners to the state has been made known to Principal Secretary of Education (S); Principal Secretary, (RD and PR); Principal Secretary (Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution); Commissioners of Social Welfare, MAHUD and Health.
In this regard, the Director of Planning has informed all concerned to furnish ATR/Status of the Schemes along with supporting orders/memorandum to Planning Department at the earliest.