Students’ body finds ambiguities in Food Security Act implementation
SHILLONG: As the state has launched the food security scheme of the Central government from this month by distributing ration cards to the beneficiaries, the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has taken exception to the distribution of cards to the non-tribals.
In a statement issued to the media on Tuesday, KSU general secretary Auguster Jyrwa said that the his organization was unhappy over the process of issuing ration cards in the East Khasi Hills district as numerous households belonging to marginalized indigenous families were struck off from the list and deprived of their rights by the district administration.
“Furthermore, as per information from reliable sources, the Union was made aware that many non-tribal households were issued ration cards by the district administration”, Jyrwa said.
According to KSU leader, the Union is “baffled as to how and through what procedure were these non-tribal households issued ration cards whereas the genuine tribal households were denied of this benefit?
The KSU said that in this regard, the Union has no alternate but to approach the district administration and request to put on hold the current distribution of ration cards until and unless the grievances of the deprived tribal households are addressed.
The Centre has recently sanctioned the food grains at subsidized rate as per the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
As per the Act, every ration card holder will get 5 kg of rice and wheat every month per head at Rs 3 and Rs 2 per kg respectively , while the beneficiaries under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) will get 35 kg food grains per month.
Te percentage of beneficiaries identified under the scheme in the rural areas is 77.79 while in urban areas it is 50.87. The scheme is expected to benefit 18,45,631 beneficiaries in rural areas and 3,03,464 beneficiaries in urban areas of State .