Implementation of food Security Scheme in Meghalaya
SHILLONG: Community and Rural Development (C&RD) Minister Prestone Tynsong has informed that the final list of the Socio-Economic Census will be published by August end.
“We had earlier targeted to publish the final list by the end of June. But now we have issued a fresh notification to publish the final list of the census by the end of August,” Tynsong informed here on Sunday.
Informing that the deadline to publish the final list in Khasi-Jaintia Hills is before August 15, he added that the deadline for the five districts in Garo Hills is before August 25.
Tynsong explained that the exercise had been delayed due to the Lok Sabha elections and various other factors including the re-assembled budget session.
“The exercise has picked up again. I am confident that the final list would be published within the scheduled deadline,” he said.
He also informed that the enumeration work has been completed in all the 11 districts.
“We are now holding the public hearing for the claims and objections,” the Minister said.
Meanwhile, Tynsong also said that the beneficiaries of the Food Security Scheme (FSS) are being finalized as per the Draft Socio Economic List of the Community and Rural Development department.
Earlier, official sources had 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.
Once the final list of beneficiaries is complied, the Government would immediately start distribution of the food grains as per the Scheme.
The official sources informed that the printing of ration cards have already begun.
“We would be issuing new ration cards to both the new and old beneficiaries. The beneficiaries under various categories like BPL and AAY would have to surrender their old ration cards once the new ones are issued,” the sources said.
Incidentally, on October 1 last year, 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 per cent 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 is now faced with the enormous task of completing all necessary formalities prior to implementing 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 covered under the programme are entitled to six kilograms of food grains per month – rice at Rs. 3 per kg, wheat at Rs. 2 per kg and millet/ coarse grains at Re 1 per kg.
However, the official sources said the implementation of this scheme will depend on whether the BJP-led Government at the Centre will clear this scheme which was announced by the earlier Congress-led UPA-II Government.