SHILLONG: Community and Rural Development (C&RD) Minister Prestone Tynsong on Monday informed that the final list of the Socio-Economic Census will be published by the end of September.
“We had earlier targeted to publish the final list of the Socio-Economic Census by the middle of August. We have now finalized to publish the Census list by the end of this month,” Tynsong said.
Tynsong informed that the initial deadline for publishing the final list of the Census in Khasi-Jaintia Hills was before August 15 while deadline for the five districts of Garo Hills was before August 25.
“Due to unavoidable circumstances, the Deputy Commissioners of the various districts have been directed to publish the list within this month,” he said, while adding that the enumeration process has been completed in all the 11 districts of the State.
It may be noted that the State Government has decided to list the beneficiaries of the proposed Food Security Scheme (FSS) as per the Socio-Economic Census.
Earlier, official sources had stated that the final list of beneficiaries under the FSS would be prepared only after receiving the complete data of the Socio-Economic Census from the Community & Rural Development department.
Meanwhile, official sources informed that printing of ration cards for the FSS has already started.
“We would issue the new ration cards to both new and old beneficiaries. The beneficiaries under various categories like BPL and AAY would have to surrender their old ration cards before collecting the new cards,” the official sources said.
Incidentally, on October 1 last year, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Clement Marak, had stated that Meghalaya had taken all steps for implementation of the National Food Security Scheme covering nearly 80 per cent of rural areas and 50 per cent of urban areas. Marak had made the statement while speaking at a conference of State Food Ministers in New Delhi.
The State Government is racing against time to complete all necessary formalities prior to implementing the Food Security Scheme that aims to benefit nearly 18,44,000 people in rural areas and another 3,12,000 people in urban areas of the State.
Individuals coming under the programme are entitled to five kg of food grains per month at Rs 3 per kg for rice, Rs 2 per kg of wheat and Re 1 per kg of millet/ coarse grains.
It, however, remains to be seen whether the BJP-led Government at the Centre will implement this Scheme which was announced by the earlier Congress-led UPA-II Government.
