NFSA : Govt eyes to be the first in NE...But many hurdles and hiccups to overcome
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 19 2014: The State Government has been reported ly working overtime to achieve the distinction of being the first State in the North East region to start implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) .

According to information received from CAF&PD Department, lists of beneficiaries have already been submitted to the Government and hectic preparations are being made to start implementing the Act from the month of July.

The Government has been working overtime to complete all necessary preparations within the available short span of time.

Even if the NFSA is implemented, there is a strong possibility of putting the scheme on hold if any complaints about non-inclusion in the beneficiary lists are received.

To avoid any such hiccups, the lists of beneficiaries, after proper identification, should be placed in the public domain with a time limit of one week for people to file any complaint or objection.

However, the list of beneficiaries already identified has not been placed in public domain so far.

The NFSA has a provision for opening a grievance redressal cell in each and every district.

There should also be one grievance redressal cell at the State level.

But no such cells have been opened till date.

Given all these raw conditions, it may take two to three months for the State Government to start implementing the Act in letter and spirit even if the Government may somehow introduce the Act from July just for name's sake.

On the other hand, the Government of India has not been sanctioning the State's rice quota for the month of July on the ground that NFSA would be implemented from July.

Generally, the monthly allocation of rice was shipped in advance.

In the meantime, PDS rice for the current month has depleted appreciably, added the source.

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