SHILLONG: Community and Rural Development Minister Prestone Tynsong informed that the final list of the Socio-Economic Census will be published by the end of June.
“We are targeting to come up with the final list of the Socio-Economic Census by the end of this first quarter,” Tynsong informed here on Saturday.
He informed that enumeration has been completed in all the 11 districts of the State.
“We are not holding the public hearing for the claims and objections,” C&RD Minister said.
Tynsong however said that the exercise was delayed due to the Lok Sabha election.
“The exercise has resumed following the culmination of poll procedures. I am confident that the final list will be published within the scheduled time,” Tynsong added.
Meanwhile, C&RD Minister also said that the beneficiaries of the Food Security Scheme (FSS) will be determined by the details of the Socio Economic List of the Community and Rural Development department.
Earlier, official sources informed that they would not be able to come out with the final list of beneficiaries under the FSS unless they receive the complete data of the Socio-Economic census from the C&RD department.
Meanwhile, official sources informed that the printing of ration cards have already started.
“We would be issuing the new ration cards to both the new and old beneficiaries.”
“The beneficiaries under various categories like BPL and AAY will have to surrender their old ration cards once the new one are issued,” official sources said.
It is noteworthy that on August 10 last year, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma stated that the State Government would complete the process of identifying the beneficiaries within sixty days and will accordingly prepare a draft list.
“The next ten day will be for claims and objections for the inclusion of beneficiaries in the list,” he had said.
Incidentally, on October 1, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Clement Marak, had stated that Meghalaya has taken all steps for implementation of the National Food Security scheme covering nearly 80 percent of rural areas and 50 per cent of urban areas. Marak had made the statement while speaking at the conference of state food ministers in New Delhi.
The State Government was faced with the enormous task of completing all necessary formalities prior to the implementation of the Food Security Scheme, that aims to benefit nearly 18,44,000 people in rural areas and another 3,12,000 people in urban areas of the State.
Individuals coming under the programme are entitled to five kg of food grains per month at Rs 3 per kg for rice, Rs 2 per kg of wheat and Re 1 per kg of millet/coarse grains.
With the Union Government having issued a strict directive to implement the scheme in letter and spirit for the benefit of the common man, the State Government, which has been accused of failing to streamline the Public Distribution System in Meghalaya, will have its task cut out as far as implementation is concerned.
The bill was introduced into India’s parliament in December 2012, promulgated as a presidential ordinance on July 5, 2013, and enacted into law in August 2013.