Considering the hardship, abject poverty and deprivation among the people in the Naxal-infested pockets of Jharkhand, the Government is in the process of approaching the Centre for relaxing
Food Security Act (FSA) norms. In its proposal the Government would request that entire populace of such ‘special areas’ be covered under the statuary food grain supply mechanism.
Informing about this, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Saryu Roy said the areas like Sarju, Jhumra or Saranda would be brought under the special category. “State Government is considering a proposal for some special areas falling under Sarju Action Plan, Jhumra Action Plan and Saranda Action Plan and also under the fifth Schedule. Under this 100 per cent population living there would be covered under the FSA provisions. We are of a view that 86 per cent cap is not practical for those areas,” said the Minister while replying on his Department’s budget for 2016-17.
Under the FSA the Center has mandated to cover 86 per cent population in rural areas and 60 per cent in urban areas to whom essential supply of food grains on controlled prices has to be ensured. Moreover the Government is of the view that such pockets living in abject poverty and deprivation should be treated differently.
The Minister also added in his reply that after successful implementation of biometric machines in Ranchi all the PDS shops across the State would be covered with it for stopping pilferage.
“We are working both at online as well as offline modes considering variations in Internet connectively in certain areas. Data of the beneficiaries would be fed in advance and does not require instant net connectivity for authentication. Also, agencies would be hired on BOOT basis for installation, operation and maintenance of the machines,” said Roy.
The Department, in order to improve its supply mechanism, is in the last stage of finalising a regulatory mechanism—‘PDS Control Order’—and has added 21 new warehouses. “Godowns of ours and of the FCI are sufficient to handle the grains. We are also going to appoint NCDX for handling the warehouses which would also deal with manpower shortage there. The warehouses can also be used for private purposes in order to make those self-reliant,” said the Minister.
In another important step, the Department would replicate the reverse bidding system for purchasing sugar for PDS after successfully bringing down price of iodized salt.
“We have managed to bring down salt price form Rs12.50 per kg to Rs5.70 per kg due to the reverse auction method adopted for appointing the supplier. Similar system would be applied for sugar supply as well. Also, the price fixation would be done for three months only so that fluctuations taking place at the price of jeans can be realised,” said Roy.
Earlier the supply agreement is done for entire year. This apart PDS shops would be supplied with gram or its dal and wheat coverage in rural areas would be raised. later the Assembly passed with voice vote the Demand for Grants amounting Rs1390 crore for 2016-17.