No timeframe for FSA claims, says Laloo

SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister in charge Food and Civil Supplies RC Laloo said on Monday that there was no fixed timeline for submission of claims and objections from people before ensuring complete coverage of the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
Replying to a question by UDP’s Jemino Mawthoh in the Assembly on Monday, Laloo said there are as many as 21,41,950 beneficiaries under the scheme.
While 18,65,631 people in rural areas are being covered under the scheme, the number of urban beneficiaries is over 3 lakh.
Replying to a supplementary question, Laloo said that the non-NFSA beneficiaries can avail themselves of food grains from the existing ration cards as the intention of the government is to implement PDS for all.
The deputy chief minister also said that the State Food Commission set up by the government is a mechanism to ensure transparent implementation of the scheme.