NFSA rice finds way to open markets
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 26 2016:
Rice which should be distributed to priority households listed under National Food Security Act (NFSA) at Rs 3 per Kg is now being sold in the markets at Rs 25.60 per Kg.
Notably, the NFSA was launched in the State on April 25 by Chief Minister O Ibobi.
Whereas the NFSA rice is sold at the markets of Imphal at Rs 25.60 per Kg, it is sold at Rs 26 per Kg at the main markets of other district headquarters.
Many of the State Governments have been facing financial difficulties in implementing NFSA and the problem is felt more acutely in States like Manipur with limited resources.
The State Government was utilising all its resources to implement NFSA in Manipur but sale of rice at open markets at Rs 25.60 per Kg has reduced all the Government's efforts to nought.
At the same time, it has turned out to be a big avenue for some influential people to amass personal wealth at the cost of the beneficiaries.
The central issue is the price of the rice which should be distributed to priority households at Rs 3 per Kg is Rs 21 per Kg.
As such, the Government has been paying subsidy of Rs 18 per Kg.
While 25 per cent of the subsidy amount is shared by the State Government, the remaining 75 per cent is shared by the Central Government, informed a source in CAF&PD Department.
Of the total priority households identified, 75 per cent has been already covered by NFSA and it is being targeted to bring at least 87 per cent of the total priority households under the Act, if not 100 per cent.
The required quantity of rice for 75 per cent of the priority households is 11796.560 metric tonnes.
But open sale of NFSA rice at Rs 25.60 per Kg tells a very disturbing tale and the very Act may turn out to be a convenient way of amassing wealth for some influential officials and traders.
As such, there is an urgent need for the Government to look into the issue and plug all the lapses, said the source.