Dimapur, May 23 (MExN): The Zeliangrong Civil Organizations (ZCOs) on May 23 appealed for uniformity in rice distribution and for all citizens to get their share without any form of deprivation.
In a press note issued by the Media and Publicity Cell, the ZCOs noted that even as people of the State are facing hard times with the second wave of COVID-19, there seems to be a “lack of monitoring and supervision by the competent authority in enforcing the guidelines and regulation especially in distribution of rice for the general public.”
They highlighted flagship programmes of the Government of India under the National Food Security Act (NPSA) 2013 like the NPSA and the PMGKAY which includes provision of 5kgs of rice per person per month free of cost for citizens during the pandemic in addition and without curtailing the existing NPSA and AAY card holders’ monthly quota entitlements.
The actual quantity of rice supposed to be received by card holders depends on the size and number of family members of the respective household, but this is not so in reality, the ACOs alleged.
Reports of not maintaining uniformity in quantity of rice distribution that vary from place to place and village to village have emerged which is a clear indication of system failure as well as manipulation by unscrupulous individuals, they added.
The quantity fixation and distribution of rice based on total number of households of a village or locality without counting the actual total living numbers of the family members who live in each household is not a justifiable ground for distribution of rice, they reasoned.
In this regard, the ZCOs urged the competent authority to issue strong direction and instruction to those individuals engaged, assigned and entrusted with the tasks of distribution of rice for general public to maintain quantity uniformity as well as to ensure all citizens get their deserve share without any form of deprivation.
They also appealed the State government to take up necessary precautionary measures in the hill districts in light of poor infrastructures and lack of required facilities and workforce in health care system in rural and remote areas considering the unprecedented surge of covid-19 positive cases.
