Every effort will be made to repeal AFSPA: Paswan
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 14 2015 : Every possible effort will be made to repeal the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), 1958, assured Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister Consumer Affairs Food & Public Distribution during a felicitation programme hosted by Lok Jan Shakti (LJS) State Unit at Chajing Mairenthong, Langthabal on Saturday.

The minister asserted that the LJS takes the fourteen-year-long struggle of Irom Sharmila for repeal of AFSPA very seriously.

He stated that after his return to Delhi, he will talk with PM Narendra Modi and impress him on the need to repeal AFSPA.

At the same time, special initiatives will be taken up to stop violence against people from Northeast particularly in Delhi and other cities of India, Paswan said.

He also informed that during the regime of the previous NDA government he had made special efforts for the protection of people from Northeast.

Every effort will be made to repeal AFSPA: Paswan

Later in day while addressing a press conference at Hotel Imphal, the minister said contrary to the charges from the people that essential items under Public Distribution Systems (PDS) do not reach them, the state authorities had claimed that essential items are being distributed regularly to the beneficiaries.

He assured that the Central government will investigate why PDS items are not reaching the people.

On Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Food Security Act, Paswan said there are high chances that the Act will be implemented in the state soon as 77 per cent of data entry work had been completed.

Once the scheme is implemented, the minister explained, details of the beneficiaries will be made available in the website and to ensure availability of items, vigilance committees will be instituted, even at Panchayal level.

The minister also reviewed the works that are being taken up for National Food Security Act in the sates of Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur.

Ninety per cent of data entry is completed in Tripura and 62 per cent in Assam.

He stated that according to information collected from relevant authorities, 77 per cent of data work has been completed in Manipur and the exercise is expected to be completed by July, paving the way for implementation of the Act.

On Sunday, Paswan will lay the foundation stone for the ten metric ton capacity storage house at Imphal and five metric ton at Bishnupur.

Prior to the press conference, Paswan interacted with officials and employees of Food Corporation of India (FCI) for a firsthand account of the methods employed in PDS distribution in the state.