SHILLONG: The State Government is awaiting clearance from the deputy commissioners before implementing the National Food Security Act in the State.
The Act aims at providing rice and wheat at the rate of Rs. 3 and Rs. 2 respectively to the identified beneficiaries.
While the percentage of beneficiaries of the scheme in the rural areas is 77.79, in urban areas 50.87 per cent of the population will benefit from the scheme.
Out of the total population of over 29 lakh (2011 census), the scheme will benefit 18,44,473 beneficiaries in rural areas and 3,02,906 beneficiaries in urban areas. East Khasi Hills has the maximum number of beneficiaries with 1,86,439 whereas North Garo Hills has the minimum number of 6694 beneficiaries.
An official with the Food and Civil Supplies department said that the department had written to all the deputy commissioners to confirm the list of beneficiaries as per the documents sent by the department.
It was based on the draft socio economic caste census that the department had sent the list of beneficiaries to the deputy commissioners.
“We have sent the list to the deputy commissioners and it may take at least a month (May) for verification by them,” the official said, adding that by June, the Government would be able to implement the provisions of the Act.
The blank new ration cards are already available with the deputy commissioners and only after proper verification of the beneficiaries that the new cards will be made available to the people with intimation to the Centre.
Crores of rupees will be spent for the project by the Centre. The State Government will write to the Centre to bear the transportation cost to carry the food grains from the FCI go downs to the fair price shops.