DIMAPUR, July 7 - An NGO has accused the Social Welfare Department of the Nagaland Government of not following the directive of the Supreme Court or adhering to the Centre�s guidelines in awarding contracts for supply of micronutrients-fortified food under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme.
The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF), in a recent statement, cautioned the department that not following the court order or adhering to the guidelines of the Centre would invite persecution under the law.
The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, in a letter dated September 26, 2014 to all States and union territories, sought strict implementation of the feeding norms while providing Take Home Rations (THR) under the ICDS scheme.
The NPRAAF has appealed to the Social Welfare Department to implement all schemes under the ICDS by strictly adhering to the Government of India�s guidelines. It also urged the department to strictly implement all flagship programmes under the Wheat Based Nutrition Programme and the National Food Security Act, 2013.
The forum stated that under the programme the Centre has allocated foodgrains at a subsidised price not exceeding Rs 3 per kg for rice, Rs 2 per kg for wheat and Re 1 per kg for coarse grains.
Since the Nagas do not consume wheat, it said the Centre converted wheat into rice in addition to the State�s share of rice. As such, there should be sufficient rice to distribute to the targeted beneficiaries, it added.
The NPRAAF further pointed out that the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has enhanced the supply of rice to the State from 4,061 metric tons to 5,000-plus metric tons of rice (converted from wheat). Therefore, the forum said, the State Government should be in a position to distribute adequate food.
The NGO appealed to department to make good use of the National Social Assistance Programme fund to help the elderly, differently abled and poor.
The NPRAAF said it would submit a memorandum to the Social Welfare Department in relation to improvement in dispensation of ICDS programmes.
