Minister Oken proposes Category D states for NE states

NEW DELHI, February 13 (MIC): The Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution of Manipur, Moirangthem Okendro drew the attention of the Centre for providing special funds to the North Eastern States for implementation of the National Food Security Bill.

Speaking at the meeting of the Food Ministers and Secretaries of State and Union Territories on the National Food Security Bill held at AP Shinde Symposium Hall, NASC Complex, Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), Pusa here today, Minister Okendro stated that the Government of Manipur examined the recommendations of the 27th Report (15th Lok Sabha) of the Standing Committee on the National Food Security Bill, 2011 and the State had no comments on the various procedures of the proposed Bill other than the recommendations in some paragraphs.

Referring to the funding pattern on creation of infrastructure, constitution of State Food Commission, creation and maintenance of scientific storage upto block levels and setting up of vigilance Committees at various levels for implementation of the National Food Security Bill that the Category A States had to bear the expenditure by themselves, the Category B States with 50% funding and the category C States with 75% funding from the Centre; the Minister stated that North Eastern States were economically poor states and depended highly on the transfer of funds from the Centre.

They were treated as Special Category States. Thus he proposed for introduction of the Category D States comprising the North East states with 90% funding from the Centre, which was still practiced in the implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes for the NE states.

He also stated that the time of one year given for preparatory works in the enforcement of the Act was too short for the North Eastern States and proposed to give two year time in view of the poor infrastructure availability in the region.

The Minister also pointed out that cash transfer scheme in lieu of foodgrains initiated by the Government of India might not be uniformly applicable to all the areas in Manipur as there were remote and inaccessible areas in the hilly region of the State where there was no banking facility and faced poor availability of food grains. For such areas, the traditional system of PDS might need to be continued, he added.

In regards to the doorstep delivery of PDS items, the Minister pointed out that it would increase the financial burden of the State as trucks and vans were to be purchased to enable efficient and effective delivery by the departmental vehicles and demanded the one time fund for purchase of the vehicles.

For setting up District Grievances Redressal units and the State Food Commission, the Minister also proposed the Centre for providing 100 % funding for the North East States.

During the meeting, Moirangthem Okendro drew the attention of the Centre for sanction of Rs 34.54 crores for construction of 21 godowns of 200 MT capacity, four godowns of 400 MT and one godown of 500 MT; which the State government had proposed to the Department of Food and Public Distribution in December last year.

The Additional Chief Secretary A. Luikham who was in charge of Public Distribution was also with the Minister in the meeting.

After the meeting, the Minister personally met Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution Prof K.V. Thomas and requested him for the inauguration of the 5000MT capacity godown in Senapati.

The Union Minister agreed to visit Manipur for inauguration of the godown in March this year.

In his address, Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution Prof K.V Thomas said that the government intended to present the revised National Food Security Bill in the Parliament during Budget Session for consideration and passage, so that the people were ensured of its benefits at the earliest.

The Bill, to provide food security for all in a rights based manner, was being finalized in the light of recommendations of Parliamentary Standing Committee.

He said that the States had to play a very crucial role in this historic and path-breaking initiative and urged them to strengthen Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) including intermediate storage facilities at all levels in order to be able to successfully implement the Act.

He also drew the personal attention of State Food Ministers to ensure time-bound accomplishment of certain critical components of strengthening such as elimination of bogus ration cards, door step delivery, first phase of computerization of TPDS, setting up or strengthening of State Civil Supplies Corporations, setting up of Vigilance Committees and ensuring their regular meetings etc. He further reminded that the Supreme Court had also from time to time passed orders for strengthening of TPDS on which States/UTs were also required to file their responses.

The National Food Security Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in December, 2011 and thereafter was examined in detail by the Parliamentary Standing Committee. State Food Ministers’ meet has been called by the Centre to have final consultations on the Bill in the light of recommendations of the Standing Committee.