Expressing dissatisfaction with the Food & Civil Supplies (F&CS) department’s clarification on why priority household (PHH) agents were directed to deposit three-month advance money, the Dimapur District Village Council Chairman Association (DDVCCA) said that it was not convinced by the “excuse” that “enough quantity should be available”. DDVCCA president I Khekuto Wilson and secretary Vitho Zao termed as “most unexpected” the department’s statement that “lockdown imposed by the Centre has become a huge burden for a state like Nagaland which imported commodities from outside” as the department had been on that job since inception of statehood.
DDVCCA expressed surprise that beneficiaries were asked to deposit advance cost when Union Finance Minister had clearly declared that states could lift PDS grains for three months on credit. “We also fail to understand why F&CS has appointed stockist at district and state level..?” it questioned. DDVCCA said it would duly abide by the directive after receiving clarification on the issue since the department has evaded and not clarified.