Shillong: The Meghalaya State Food Commission has put in place a grievance redressal mechanism at the district and state level for beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, 2013.
Deputy commissioners have been designated as district grievance redressal officers (DGRO) to handle complaints of beneficiaries in regard to non-receipt of foodgrains or meals as entitled.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Commission said its role was to monitor and review the implementation of the Act, and that it has the power of imposing penalties in cases of failure to comply with the provisions of the Act.
The Commission will also hear appeals against the order of DGROs.
The move comes in the wake of reports of anomalies in the implementation of the Act that has been enacted to provide food and nutritional security by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices.
The commission has also set up a helpline (2505517) and a call centre (with 1967 as the toll free number) in the food, civil supplies and consumer affairs department for citizens to get information in this regard.
Under the Act, 75 per cent rural and 50 per cent urban population are covered under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) with uniform entitlements of 5 kg per person per month. The poorest of the poor, the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, are entitled to 35kg per household per month.
Foodgrains under TPDS are made available at subsidized prices of Rs three/two/one per kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains for a period of three years.
Women are empowered under this Act as ration cards are issued to the eldest women of the households who are above the age of 18.
Pregnant women and lactating mothers and children in the age group of six months to 14 years are entitled to meals as prescribed nutritional norms under the Integrated Child Development Services and Mid-Day Meal schemes/programmes.
Higher nutritional norms have been prescribed for malnourished children up to 6 years of age.
The Act also provides for disclosure of records relating to PDS, social audits and setting up of vigilance committees to ensure transparency and accountability.
