Amid the COVID-19 second wave issue, people continued to express unhappiness saying they are getting less quantity of rice under National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) and Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
Beneficiaries at Keirao Makting under Keirao Assembly constituency of Imphal East on Thursday refused to accept the rice distributed after they were not given the quantity of rice to be received under PMGKAY.
As announced recently by the Centre, under this scheme, ration card holders/beneficiaries under NFSA will be provided additional rice at five kg per person per month ‘free of costs’ for May and June, 2021 over and above their month NFSA quota.
The beneficiaries refused to accept the rice when the agent distributed only six kg of rice per family keeping aside how many members are in a family.
The beneficiaries drew the attention of the pertinent authorities to rectify the irregularities in the distribution of the rice at the earliest.
They urged the authorities to ensure distribution of the actual quantity of rice considering the hardships being faced by the people, particularly by the poor section of the society in this crucial time of pandemic.
Such complaints of beneficiaries not getting the actual quantity of rice under PMGKAY and NFSA were pouring in from across the state in the past few days even as the state Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (CAF&PD) had recently highlighted to the tension over rice distribution for the poor amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The CAP&PD asserted that NFSA is an ongoing regular scheme implemented in Manipur since 2016 and PMGKAY a special intervention of the Central government to alleviate the hardships of the people during the Covid pandemic.
Under NFSA, AAY households irrespective of the number of family members are entitled to receive 35 kg of rice per month and all PHH beneficiaries shall receive five kg of rice per person per month at Rs 3 per kg which is to be borne by the beneficiaries themselves.
While under PMGKAY, a special scheme introduced by the government as a Covid specific assistance to the states to mitigate the hardships of the people during these difficult times, ration card holders/beneficiaries under NFSA will be provided additional rice at five kg per person per month ‘free of costs’ for May and June, 2021 over and above their month NFSA quota, it mentioned.
NNN
About The Author
