CAF&PD clarifies on NFSA and PMGKAY rations distribution
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 02 2021:
Directorate of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (CAF&PD) clarified the misunderstandings that led to recent confrontation between FPS agents and the public.
In a clarification issued today by CAF&PD, the department clarified that NFSA is an ongoing regular scheme implemented in Manipur since 2016 and PMGKAY is a special intervention of the Central Government to alleviate the hardships of the people during the Covid pandemic.
Regarding NFSA, the department said, the monthly allocation for Manipur is 106106.45 Qtls and there are 18,60,159 beneficiaries under NFSA with 62667 Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and 1683460 Priority Household (PHH) beneficiaries.
AAY households are entitled to receive 35kg of rice per month irrespective of number of family members while PHH beneficiaries are entitled to receive 5kg of rice per person per month.
The monthly foodgrains entitlements are to be collected by the ration card holders of NFSA from their respective FPS agents duly appointed by the DC concerned on payment of the fixed price of Rs 3 per kg and as per existing guidelines of the scheme, persons not possessing a valid ration card will not be entitled to receive PDS ration.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) on the other hand is a special scheme introduced by the Government of India as a Covid specific assistance to the states to mitigate the hardships of the people during these difficult times.
93007.95 Qtls of rice per month for May-June, 2021 was allocated to Manipur under PMGKAY Phase III.
Under this scheme, ration card holders/beneficiaries under NFSA will be provided additional rice at 5 kg per person per month free of cost for a period of two months ie May and June, 2021 .
This will be provided over and above their monthly NFSA quota and their is no separate allocation for AAY households in PMGKAY and allocation of rice is calculated on the basis of number of beneficiaries.
This scheme will benefit the ration card holders and enlisted members only and persons not possessing a valid ration card under NFSA will not be covered as per the guidelines of the scheme.
All the allocated quota of rice under NFSA/PMGKAY are to be lifted by the District Authorities through Transport Contractor appointed by CAF&PD Department, who shall be solely responsible for the safe transportation of the same from FCI/CAF&PD depots to respective Fair Price Shops (FPS) in the districts.
The directorate further added that FPS agents are to distribute both the NFSA and PMGKAY rice to the entitled beneficiaries.