Morung Express: Kohima: Tuesday,
August 02, 2016.
A Citizen
Rights Awareness Programme was conducted at SBCK High School, Bayavu, Sephuzou
Youth Fellowship, Kohima on July 30.
According to
a press release, a team consisting of Kohima Law College LL.B Final Year
students and led by Professor-in-Charge Kezhokhoto Savi, created awareness
amongst the public on topics including National Food Security Act, Lokayukta,
Food Safety & Standard Act, Consumer Rights, Child Rights Protection,
Environment Protection, Right to Information Act (RTI) and Human Rights.
While
presenting on National Food Security Act 2013, the team clarified the
information of the rate of wheat given by DC Kohima as Rs.3 per kg as wrong. No
beneficiaries either AAY or Priority Household (PHH) would be charged more than
Rs.3 per kg for rice and Rs.2 per kg for wheat, the release stated.
National Food
Security Act is an act of the Parliament of India which aims to provide
subsidized food grains to two-thirds of India’s 1.2 Billion population. The Act
also covers the mid-day meal scheme, integrated child development services and
recognizes maternity entitlements.
The Act
provides for coverage of up to 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of
urban population for receiving subsidized foodgrains.
According to
the release, beneficiaries of AAY would get 35kg of food grains per month and
the eligible persons of Priority Household would be entitled to get 5kgs of
food grains per person per month at subsidized prices where ‘Rice’ can be
obtained at Rs.3 per kg, wheat at Rs.2 per kg and flours at Rs1 per kg.
This Act has
a special focus on the nutritional support to women and children. Pregnant
women and lactating mothers would be entitled to receive maternity benefit of
not less than Rs.6000, it informed.
It is the
duty of the state government to take delivery of food grains from the concerned
department of central government. The State government shall appoint for each
district a redressal officer for expeditious and effective redressal of
grievances of the aggrieved persons in matters relating to district wise
distributing of food grains under this Act.
After a delay
of almost three years the Govt. of Nagaland could implement the national food
security act for Dimapur and Kohima “with a commitment that it would soon be
implemented in all districts”, the release stated. “This is the Act that the
people have waited for long and we now hope that the state government would not
fail to fully implement this “National Food Security Act 2013”, as this if and when
implemented properly will hugely uplift the general mass specially the weaker
section in the state,” it maintained.
For any
consumer grievances or query dial Nagaland State Consumer Helpline Toll Free
No. 1800-345-3701 during the office working hours.
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