From Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi: MPCC president DD Lapang, who is also Chairman of the North East Congress Coordination Committee (NECCC), on Saturday, suggested that the Centre should treat the Northeast region on a different footing for implementation of the Food Security Bill in view of its difficult terrain and adverse climate.
Participating in a meeting of the PCC presidents from all over the country, Lapang said that the hilly Northeastern region is yet to have good transport network to carry the food grains for the poor living in isolated locations. The region does not have enough godown facilities to store food grains during the rainy seasons which continue for almost half the year, he said.
Close on the heels of party president Sonia Gandhi’s interaction with chief ministers of Congress-ruled states, Rahul Gandhi held deliberations with PCC chiefs of all states on the Food Security Bill on Saturday.
Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh and Food Minister KB Thomas were present during the deliberations and made interventions during the meeting.
The deliberations had seen a number of participants raising concerns over poor condition of the Public Distribution System (PDS). “Such concerns are more evident in the backward and remote North East region,” Lapang said.
The aim of the meeting was to ensure that the scheme is implemented in the best possible manner with Congress-ruled states becoming role models in implementation of the food security measure. The measure is seen by the party as a ‘game changer’ and these meetings are being held at a time when the party is preparing for the next Lok Sabha polls and is keen to reach out to the people with its populist measure.
A host of Congress spokespersons are already on the move in various states including in the North East to hold workshops for the PCCs on food security issue and address press conferences at state headquarters.
“In order to make the novel scheme a great success in the North East, special attention has to be given to the landlocked region where road transport is virtually the only means,” Lapang added.
