Okendro bats for free flow of food grains into Manipur
Source: The Sangai Express / Manipur Info Centre
New Delhi, July 04 2014 :
Manipur Food & Consumer Affairs Minister Moirangthem Okendro today demanded for uninterrupted induction of food grains into Manipur through the Food Corporation of India with a buffer stock of 42000 MT to be maintained at all times which would be adequate for at least three months.
Attending at the Conference of Ministers and Secretaries of Consumer affairs, Food and Public Distribution of States and Union Territories at Vigyan Bhawan here today which was chaired by the Union Minister of Finance Arun Jetli and Union Minister of Consumer affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan ; Minister Okendro stated that Manipur might be the only state in India that had faced the bitter experience of worst inflation of price of essential commodities in the country in the past few years.
He said that Manipur experienced frequent bandhs and blockades more than any other States in the country.
Two National Highways namely NH-37 connecting Jiribam and Imphal and NH-2 connecting Dimapur and Imphal which were the only routes for transportation of all goods and essential commodities into Manipur were frequestly blocked or sabotaged by the non-governmental organisations and insurgents using the two lifelines as a bargaining chip to extract their different demands.
At one point of time during a record 120-day economic blockade by civil societies in 2011 ; the price of petrol rose to Rs.300 per liter and that of LPG cylinder to Rs 2000.Besides, landslides continued to be a routine occurrence along the hilly stretches of the two highways.
He urged the Centre to improve the conditions of the NH-37 and NH-2 into all-weather roads.
Minister Okendro pointed out that Manipur is a food deficient State.
He stated, " Only about 10 per cent of its geographical area is used for agriculture.
The cultivable area is also shrinking due to pressure from increasing population.
The State is dependent on foodgrains inducted into the State outside the State i.e.minimum of 14000 MT of foodgrains in a month.
" He also pointed out that the proposed Mega block of Badarpur-Lumding railway line for guage conversion by the NF Railways effecting from the first October of 2014 would be a major concern for the state.
He said, "The Mega Block will totally paralyze induction of foodgrains on Jiribam-Imhal route, which accounts for half of the food grains transported into the State" .
He urged the Centre to reschedule the proposed Mega Block until an alternative arrangement for transporting adequate foodgrains into Manipur was finalized.
Regarding the National Food Security Act 2013, Moirangthem Okendro stated that the State Government was fully committed to its successful implementation in Manipur.
He said, "As preparatory step, the State has completed identification of beneficiaries as per guidelines stipulated in the Act.
Digitisation of ration cards of the identified beneficiaries is also going on.
As of now, 53 per cent of the beneficiary database have been digitized out of tentative target of 4,86,211.We expect to complete the entire process within two months" .
He apprised that the State was facing acute financial constraints due to lack of fund for intra-State transportation, handling charges and Fair Price Shop commission to be incurred for the implementation of the Act.
Transportation of food grains from State and FCI godowns towards far flung five hill districts and the remaining four valley districts to ensure doorstep delivery would involve huge financial expenditure.
He requested the Centre to consider for provision of the required fund to finance the cost of intra-state transportation as advance financial assistance before rolling out the National Food Security Act in the State.
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