'File formal complaints for redressal on NFSA'
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Imphal, July 09 2016 :
If any
consumer in the State has any
problem regarding the
implementation of the National
Food Security Act they should
file their formal complaint in the
appropriate forum, said M
Yaiskul Meitei, Director of
Consumer Affairs, Food &
Public Distribution,
Government of Manipur.
He was
addressing a press meet
organized by DIPR yesterday as
part of an exercise to publicize the
activities and achievements of the
various departments of the
Government of Manipur.
For more efficient and
transparent implementation of
the NFSA in the State, Addl
Deputy Commissioner posted
in each district has been desig-
nated as District Grievance
Redressal Officer.
This would
go a long way in swift and
effective redressal of com-
plaints of the consumers.
Besides , to ensure account-
ability, and as a step to check
leakages in public distribution
system, monitoring/vigilance
committees have been set up at
state level, district level, block
level and FPS level, he said.
He was responding to que-
ries of media persons who
raised the various complaints
of consumers not getting their
full quota of rice or of non
issue of cards among others.
The Director informed that as
mandated by Section 16 read
with Section 18 of National
Food Security Act, 2013 and
in pursuance of the approval
by the State Cabinet, the
Manipur Disputes Redressal
Commission has been set up
with its office located at the
Old Assembly Complex which
has been functioned as the
State Food Commission.
Fur-
ther a helpline has been set up
which the consumers can con-
tact at 0385-2455496 and toll
free 1800-345-3821.
The National Food Security
Act was launched in the State
by Chief Minister O Ibobi
on April 25 this year.
Though
upto 87 pc of the total popula-
tion of the State which comes
to 24,84,540 can be covered
under NFSA, at present only
74.64 pc ie 21,31,652 comes
under the purview of this Act.
With the State Government re-
questing the Government of
India to convert quota of wheat
entitled for Manipur into rice,
the State was allocated a total
11796.56 MT of rice from
April 2016 onwards.
Of this
total quantity, 2200.415 MT is
meant for AAY category while
9596 MT is set aside for pri-
ority.
Monthly Utilization
Certificates for targeted PDS
foodgrains and other PDS
items are jointly signed by an
NGO/SHG member operating
in the particular FPS jurisdic-
tion/Up-Pradhan or Member
and Panchayat Secretary of the
Gram Panchayat/Chairman or
Secretary of Village Authority
of the village and SDO/BDO
concerned.
On the basis of the
joint UCs furnished by the
SDO/BDO concerned, the DC
issues UC for the village and
FPS concerned at the time of
placing subsequent indents to
the Directorate of CAF&PD.
The another effort to totally
plug all loopholes which re-
sults in leakages at every step
leading up to the beneficiaries,
the department is in the process
of implementing end to end
computerization of the Public
Distribution System.
The
project is to be taken up with
the Government of India bear-
ing 90 pc of the cost and the
State government putting up
the rest 10 pc.
The Govern-
ment of India has already
released 60 pc of its share.
One
of the most important compo-
nent of this scheme is Fair
Price Automation in which
Adhaar based PoS machines
would be used to record the
sales and receipt of foodgrains.
On the distribution of sugar
under PDS, the department
procures 1753 MT of sugar
from the open market at the
rate of Rs 37.75 per kg and is
distributed to the beneficiaries
at the rate of Rs 20.25 per kg
which is made possible as a
result of a subsidy of Rs 18.50
per kg.
There is likelihood of a
fluctuation in this rate as the
department had issued fresh
tender for procurement of sugar
from firms across the country,
the director informed the me-
dia.
Coming to the distribution
of SK oil, the Government of
India allocates 1764 KL to the
state through IOC.
This is re-
duced by 5 pc in every quarterly
allocation by excluding those
families which already have got
LPG connection.
The idea be-
hind this being that with greater
penetration of LPG in house-
holds, there is a decline in the
demand for kerosene for both
for cooking and lighting pur-
poses.
Further, the Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas is
planning to introduce Direct
Benefit Transfer for SK oil also.
The Directorate has over the
years also enhanced the storage
capacity of foodgrains by con-
structions godowns at various
districts of the State.
The State
Government at present has taken
up construction of seven stor-
age godowns having a total
capacity of 11,500 Mt during
2011-12 and 2013-13.Two of
these, one in Tamenglong HQ
and Moreh (Chandel) have been
completed.
The completion of
these godowns will significantly
increase the PDS system in the
State to the benefit of the most
deserving beneficiaries.
One of the major challenge
ahead of the Department of
CAF&PD would the proper im-
plementation of the NSFA in
the days ahead.
For this to hap-
pen, it has to seriously address
the various issues raised by the
public in the past few months
since its launching in the state.
Joint Director, CAF & PD and
Nodal Officer (NFSA), Ranjan
Yumnam also attended.
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