By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 6: Food and Civil Supplies Minister Comingone Ymbon has announced that the state government aims to transform the state into a model of food security through a system that is efficient, transparent and accountable.
Speaking at the inauguration of a one-day workshop on the 5-Year Vision Document for the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Ymbon expressed gratitude to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) for partnering with the state. He noted that WFP, with its presence in over 120 countries, brings decades of global expertise in food security, supply chain management and logistics.
“Today, we are fortunate to draw on this knowledge in Meghalaya. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that every household in the state receives its rightful entitlements with dignity, reliability and quality,” Ymbon said.
The minister stressed that the workshop discussions would help shape a roadmap for the next five years, urging deputy commissioners and senior officials to contribute actively. “Your leadership at the district level will be crucial in turning this vision into reality,” he added.
To bridge existing gaps and overcome challenges in scheme implementation, the state government, in collaboration with WFP, is preparing a 5-Year Strategic Vision Document along with an actionable roadmap. The plan focuses on strengthening delivery mechanisms, improving beneficiary targeting, ensuring inter-departmental convergence and building long-term system resilience.
This initiative is expected to directly benefit over three million residents, particularly those in tribal and remote regions. The TPDS in Meghalaya currently reaches more than 21 lakh people—about 80% of the state’s population—making it one of the most vital tools for achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: Zero Hunger.
Over the years, Meghalaya has introduced significant reforms, such as automation of supply chain management and digitisation of Fair Price Shops (FPS), to improve the efficiency of TPDS operations. However, challenges remain. Persistent issues include exclusion errors, logistical bottlenecks, and incomplete beneficiary data, which are especially acute in hard-to-reach tribal areas.
By addressing these shortcomings through the new strategic plan, Meghalaya hopes to lay the foundation for a more equitable, inclusive and robust public distribution system in the years ahead.