FPS agents entrusted to deliver monthly rations to beneficiaries
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 19 2021:
Director of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (CAF&PD) stated that Fair Prize Shop (FPS) agents under the supervision of DSO and CAF&PD Department have been entrusted to deliver the monthly rations to the homes of the eligible families during curfew.
The Director of CAF&PD Department, in a press release, stated that the Department is taking all necessary steps to ensure that people holding 'Ration Cards' get their due entitlements of rice under NFSA and PMGKAY.
The measure of delivering ration to the homes of the beneficiaries came in line with the curfew being imposed in all the districts with effect from July 18 after the State witnessed a staggering rise in the number of Covid cases recently, the Director said.
Availability of food in the households is a prerequisite in persuading people to remain indoors and meet the objectives of the curfew and the Chief Minister has appealed to the public to observe the curfew in letter and spirit and to follow Covid appropriate behaviours.
As such the delivery measure has been entrusted to FPS agents, the Director said.
For people not covered by the NFSA or PMGKAY, their requirement of foodgrains will be met from the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) stock on payment of Rs 22 per kg and the FPS agents in close proximity to the local residents will identify the households who are to purchase OMSS rice from the CAF&PD Department and assess the quantum of such rice required, the Director said.
It may be mentioned that under NFSA, AAY households irrespective of the number of family members are entitled to receive 35 kgs of rice per month and all PHH beneficiaries shall receive 5 kgs of rice per person per month.
The subsidised price of NFSA rice is Rs 3 per kg.
Under PMGKAY, Ration Card Holders/beneficiaries will be provided an additional rice @ 5 kg per person per month free of cost till November this year over and above the monthly NFSA rice quota, the Director stated.
The new distribution/delivery mechanism will be employed with the active support of the police department and local civic organisations so that restrictions of the curfew will not be a bottleneck in the delivery of the rice to the public, the Director added.