SHILLONG: The opposition has asked the state government to issue more ration cards to the beneficiaries in the State.
During the question hour on Monday , PT Sawkmie (Congress) wanted the government to increase the number of beneficiaries.
He pointed out that many residents in his constituency are not getting the ration cards.
In his reply, Food and Civil Supplies Minister James Sangma said that with the implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA) in the state, all beneficiaries, who fulfilled the criteria under Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC), are covered under NFSA.The coverage in urban areas is 50.87 percent while it is 77.79 in rural areas. The number of beneficiaries in rural areas is 18,45,542 and in urban areas there are 3,34,85 beneficiaries. Sangma said in case the beneficiaries are left out, there is a provision for hearing claims and objections.
“The government has already carried out this exercise and a list has also been forwarded to Centre for approval”, he said.
The Minister, however, said since the selection of beneficiaries were as per the 2011 census, the next updated list will be after the next census.
However, the government can conduct another claims and objections to include more names, Sangma said.To a question by Ampareen Lyngdoh (Congress), the Minister said that the errors in the census will be corrected.
George Lyngdoh and Charles Pyngrope ( both Congress) also raised varied queries to ensure proper implementation of NFSA .
