Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) on Sunday has alleged that gross irregularities are going on in the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) under National Food Security Act 2013 (NFSA) in Nagaland.
The forum while indicating that there is siphoning and diversion of the TPDS in Nagaland alleged that where items hardly reach beneficiaries despite the state receiving more than surplus items each month.
The forum has also appealed to the government to do the needful and also said that it would submit a memorandum demanding clarity on the TDPS under NFSA 2013.
With a view to make receipt of food grains under TPDS a legal right; Government of India enacted National Food Security Act which came into force with effect from July 5, 2013 last.
The Act provides for coverage of up to 75 per cent of rural population and up to 50 per cent of urban population for receiving subsidized food grains under TPDS, thus covering two-third population of the country.
The eligible persons identified by the states/union territories are entitled to receive five kgs of food grains per person per month at subsidized rate of Rs three/2.5 per kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains respectively with their Priority House Hold ration card, the forum stated on Sunday.
The existing Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, which constitute the poorest of poor, receive 35 kg of food grains per household per month.
As on November 1, 2016, NFSA has been implemented on all the 36 states/union territories and they are receiving monthly allocation of food grains as per their entitlement under NFSA.
Nagaland receives 16,625 metric ton annually with monthly allocation of 1385 metric ton and under PHH, Nagaland receives 76,331 MT with monthly allocation of 6360 MT (40 lakh kg per month).
However, the Forum, alleged that in most villages of Nagaland, AAY reaches the beneficiaries only once in two or three months and there has been some instances of where the rice is sold to the beneficiaries at an higher price in the village.