Manipur Government continues to ensure availability of food grains, especially rice, across the State during the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, official sources said.
Public Distribution System (PDS) rice under National Food Security Act (NFSA), Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS), meant for distribution to beneficiaries residing in 60 Assembly Constituencies of the State, are being lifted from various Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns to ensure such availability, according to a DIPR report.
In Thoubal district, 2837.5 quintal of PDS rice was lifted on Sunday for Wangjing Tentha Assembly Constituency.
The lifted rice included 382.55 quintal under AAY, 1,958.10 quintal under NFSA and 496.85 under OMSS.
Lifting of 480 quintal of rice under OMSS was also reported for Wangkhem Assembly Constituency of the district.
Jiribam district too reported lifting of 200 quintal of rice under OMSS for its Jiribam Assembly Constituency on Sunday.
Apart from lifting, distribution of PDS rice, to the beneficiaries of Heirok AC of Thoubal District, was carried out on Sunday.
The distributed rice consisted of 582.05 quintal under AAY, 1628.80 quintal under NFSA, 1902.70 quintal under PMGKAY and 582.20 quintal under OMSS.
On Saturday, lifting of PDS rice under the scheme of NFSA, PMGKAY and OMSS allocated for the month of May continues in the State to ensure availability of foodgrains in the State despite lockdown to contain outbreak of COVID-19.
With the lifting of 2133.55 quintal of rice under PMGKAY and OMSS allocated for the month of May in respect of Sugnu AC in Kakching district, lifting has completed on May 9.
The lifted PDS rice includes 1409.50 quintal under PMGKAY and 724.05 quintal under OMSS respectively.