CAF&PD clears air on rice-grain distribution row
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 02 2021: Amid the raging controversies and allegations over non-distribution or disparity in provision of government-sponsored rice, Consumers Affairs & Public Distribution Department has issued a circular pertaining to quantity of rice grain to be distributed under NFSA and PMGKAY-III schemes and who are entitled to receive the same.

According to CAF&PF director Ranjan Yumnam, NFSA is an ongoing regular scheme implemented in Manipur since 2015 and PMG- KAY is a special intervention of the Central Government to alleviate the hardship of the people during the Covid pandemic.

The director explained that for NFSA, the monthly allocation under NFSA for Manipur is 1,06,106.45 quintals.

There are 18,60,159 beneficiaries under NFSA with 62,667 AAY households and 16,83,460 PHH beneficiaries.

AAY households irrespective of the number of family members are entitled to receive 35 kg of rice per month and all PHH beneficiaries 5 kg of rice per person per month.

As per the existing guidelines of the scheme, persons not possessing a valid Ration Card will not be entitled to receive PDS ration, he specified.

The director further stated that PMGKAY is a special scheme introduced by the Centre as a Covid specific assistance to the states to mitigate the hardship of the people during these difficult times.

The Union government has allocated 93,007.95 quintals of rice per month for May-June, 2021 to Manipur under Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKAY) Phase-III.

Under the scheme, Ration Card holders/beneficiaries under NFSA will be provided additional rice of 5 kg per person per month free of cost for a period of two months (May-June, 2021) over and above the monthly NFSA quota.

There is no separate allocation for AAY households in PMGKAY and allocation of rice is calculated on the basis of number of beneficiaries.

This scheme will benefit the Ration Card holder and enlisted members only and persons not possessing valid Ration Card under NFSA will not be covered as per the guidelines of the scheme, he said.

The circular also stated that the allocated NFSA/PMG- KAY rice will be lifted by the District Authorities through the Transport Contractor appointed by CAF&PD Department who shall be solely responsible for the safe transportation of the entire quantity of PMGKAY/NFSA rice from FCI/CAF&PD depots to respective Fair Price Shops in the districts.

FPS agents will distribute both the NFSA and PMGKAY rice to the entitled beneficiaries.

In view of the current Covid pandemic, beneficiaries will follow Covid appropriate practices like maintaining distancing of at least six feet, wearing of masks, etc.

while collecting the ration from the FPS shops/locations, it added.

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