Lapses, anomalies detected in NFSA
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 21 2016: Many lapses and anomalies have been detected in the selection process of AAY and priority households for the National Food Security Act (NFSA) which was launched in the State in April this year.

Sources in CAD&PD Department informed that the department is aware about the lapses and anomalies.

All beneficiaries of NFSA (both AAY and priority) households should have annual income lower than Rs one lakh.

However, many well to do families whose annual incomes are above Rs one lakh and whose members are Government employees have been included in the lists of AAY and priority household beneficiaries.

Nonetheless, there is a mechanism to correct this follies/anomalies and they would be corrected one by one.

As for families whose members are Government employees, they would never get any benefit from NFSA, said the sources.

A State Food Commission and consumer redressal cell would supervise implementation of NFSA in the State.

Moreover, grievance redressal officers have been appointed at district level.

However, there are many controversies in the process of distributing rice for the month of April under NFSA through fair price shops which is going on now.

The ongoing process of distributing rice to AAY and priority household beneficiaries is done under a door-step delivery system.

Under this system rice is delivered to fair price shops of all districts.

Transportation charges for bringing rices to fair shops and unloading charges should be borne by transport contractors.

The responsibility of fair price shop agents is restricted to distributing rice to AAY and priority households at Rs 3 per Kg.

For this, they would get a commission of 65 paise per Kilogram of rice.

There is also a proposal to hike the commission entitled to fair price shops agents from 65 paise to Rs 1.43 per Kg.

Fair price shop agents would get their commission as and when Government releases funds and there is no guarantee that they should get their commission every month.

The commission given to fair price shop agents is shared between the State Government and the Central Government at the ratio of 1: 3 .

For the financial year 2016-17, an amount of Rs 30 crore has been incorporated in the annual budget for payment to transport contractors.

Like the fair price shop agents' commission, the transport charge is shared between the State Government and the Central Government at the ratio of 1: 3 .

As such, fair price shops agents need not spend a single rupee in distributing NFSA rice to beneficiaries and they should not take a single paise from beneficiaries, added the sources.

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