State Level Consultation on Food Security held
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 30 2015 : A state level consultation on food security programme was held at Manipur Press Club on Tuesday.

It was jointly organised by Sustainable Livelihood Forum Manipur (SLFM), Church's Auxiliary For Social Action (CASA) and Network OF Manipur Voluntary Organisation (NMVO) .

The programme dwelt on the following objectives, to share the analytical views on the existing PDS & NFSA, 2013 in the context of Manipur, to bring collective learning and effort among the NGOs and Civil Society Organisations for accessing the rights to food entitlements, to enhance the operational transparency of the department and accountability of authority implementing the PDS and other related food security schemes in the state.

R.K Bobychand said, " Food security needs to contextualize according to our culture, in order to reach the food sovereignty." Shangnaidar Tontang, convenor of the programme said, "The programme is being held to inform the government that the scheme like public distribution system is not implemented properly, so that government could take up steps against department" .

She further added that, "If the initiative is not taken by the government, we will go to the National Human Rights Commission." It can be mentioned here that the state government is struggling to implement the National Food Security Act, 2013 till today.

Numerous public welfare schemes launched by the central government through state cannot be assured the benefits to the targeted population.

Some related issues are improper selection of beneficiaries, irregular distribution of PDS items, inadequate quantity of PDS item, non-distribution of PDS ration cards to the beneficiaries and lack of awareness about the scheme among the people.

The programme was attended by Yumnam Rupachandra Editor in chief, IMPACT TV as moderator and Prof.Amar Yumnam of Economics Department of Manipur University as a subject expert.

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