The amount of rice to be doubled for the beneficiaries of Meghalaya under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) for three months from April to June in view of the lockdown.
The government will purchase 1,17,278 quintals of rice under the Open Market Sale Scheme of the FCI, food and civil supplies secretary Pravin Bakshi told reporters along with Meghalaya deputy CM Prestone Tynsong on Friday evening.
Bakshi said as far as rice is concerned, apart from rice that the people used to get under the NFSA, the government will purchase ‘Grade-A’ rice from the open market at Rs 2,250 per quintal.
“This rice will be lifted through the respective deputy commissioners and the stocks have started reaching,” Bakshi said.
Bakshi informed that lifting of rice under NFSA by the wholesalers from FCI godowns has completed, and the lifting for the month of May will start.
“From April to June, beneficiaries under NFSA will receive a double amount of rice.
The Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) rice will double from 35 kg to 70 kg per household, and the distribution of priority household (PHH) rice will double from 5 kg per head to 10 kg. People will have to pay only 35 kg and 5 kg respectively, but the extra 35kg and 5 kg is free of cost. Pulse will be also provided 1 kg per household free of cost,” Bakshi said.
Bakshi also informed that households included under non-NFSA are also getting rice between 7 kg and 8 kg per household.
“Those households not possessing ration cards should get rice because 5 per cent of the buffer stock is meant for non-NFSA,” Bakshi said.
Meanwhile, Tynsong said the people will get more rice from April to June and asked all the vigilance committee in various villages to be vigilant to ensure that the Fair Price Shop dealers distribute rice to the people in their respective villages.