Food security scheme in Manipur to take time

IMPHAL, Aug 9 – Manipur Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Moirangthem Okendro has revealed that the implementation of the Food Security Scheme in the State will take time as the actual number of beneficiaries under the scheme is yet to be finalised.

Speaking to media persons at a recent meeting, the Minister said that his department is taking up necessary steps to identify the number of individuals to be covered under this scheme in the State. It is mandatory for the government to implement the scheme within a stipulated time.

He said the total number of households in the State under the 2011 census is 5,41,920. The number of Above Poverty Line families is 3,75,900, Below Poverty Line families 1,02,400 and Antyodaya Anna Yojana beneficiaries 63,600, he disclosed.

AICC spokesperson Ranadeep Singh Surjewala during his recent visit to Manipur had announced that 23,78,000 people out of Manipur’s 27,21000 population will be covered under the Centre’s Food Security Programme once the Food Security Bill is implemented in the State.This is about 95 per cent of the State’s entire population.

The Congress leader clarified that the State Government need not worry about the financial burden as the Central Government is spending an estimated Rs 1, 25,000 crore annually to buy 726 lakh tonnes of food grains every year for a population of 82 crore.

This programme when implemented will be the biggest in the world as it aimed at giving legal rights to 67 per cent of the population for an uniform quantity of five kilograms of food grains at a price of Rs 1-3 per kg through ration shops.