After a delay of nearly three years, Nagaland government on Monday finally launched the much awaited ‘National Food Security Act’ (NFSA) 2013 here at the Directorate of Food and Civil Supplies (F&CS), Dimapur.
It may be mentioned that under the Act, beneficiaries of Priority Household (PHH) would be provided 5 kgs of subsidized foodgrains per head at Rs.3 per kg for rice and Rs.2 for wheat in the ratio of 4:1. NFSA 2013 would also cover 78.83% of the rural populace and 61.98% of the urban populace in the State.
Launching the NFSA, Nagaland chief minister T.R Zeliang, who is also holds the F&CS portfolio, remarked that the launching of NFSA 2013 was a landmark event in the State’s history.
T.R. Zeliang informed that delay in implementation of the Food Security Act in Nagaland was due to unfavourable funding pattern and various logistical issues such as lack of infrastructure, lack of godowns in most districts of the State, lack of power backup, digitization process, constitution of State Food Commission, vigilance committees, and grievances redressal mechanism at the district level.
He was however optimistic saying it was “better late than never”, and called upon all stakeholders, particularly the beneficiaries, to actively participate at all levels for the successful implementation of the Act.
Zeliang also highlighted the incorporation of technology in the Act to ensure transparency from top to bottom.
The chief minister later distributed PHH cards to women beneficiaries of Dimapur.
Also speaking on the occasion, Food and Civil Supplies director, Alun Hangsing stated that the Act would greatly benefit a large number of the population.
Hangsing informed that the department, from top to bottom, was fully mobilized to achieve the target of providing highly subsidized food grains to the beneficiaries.
Informing that both Above poverty Line (APL) and Below Poverty Line (BPL) beneficiaries have been amalgamated under the name of Priority Household as per the Act, director said the department had 2,37,434 households with an increase of 44,464 households with female members as head of family in the PHH ration card covering 11,93,922 individual beneficiaries. Together with 2,12,034 Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) beneficiaries, the department would cover 14,05,956 beneficiaries, he added.
He also stated that details of food grain allocation, date of dispatch and receipt, grievance redressal mechanism at state, district, and sub-divisional level etc. would be made online by uploading transaction details at www.fcs.nagaland.gov.in.
Highlighting the importance of Aadhar card, Hangsing said that since Point of Sale machines would be used shortly in fair price shops across the State, seeding of Aadhar number with ration cards was essential to identify genuine beneficiaries.
Earlier, the function was chaired by F&CS secretary, Ramongo Lotha, invocation pronounced by pastor, TBC Dimapur, Rev. Vilodi Sakhrie and introductory address on NFSA 2013 was delivered by director F&CS. The vote of thanks was delivered by joint director of F&CS.
Other dignitaries who attended the function include– Home minister, Y. Patton, parliamentary secretaries, advisors, chief secretary Pankaj Kumar; DC Dimapur, Kesonyu Yhome and Dimapur Police Commissioner, Liremo Lotha.