RAHA, Dec 26 - State Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Rakibul Hussain launched the National Food Security Scheme in Nagaon district today. Accordingly, every person belonging to priority households will be entitled to receive 5 kg of foodgrains per month at subsidised prices not exceeding Rs 3 per kg of rice.
The National Food Security Act (NFSA) is an Act to provide food and nutritional security in human life cycle approach by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices for people to live with dignity. Under NFSA, 2013, a total of 2,11,69,000 have been identified as priority households in the State of Assam and 22, 65,136 households in Nagaon district will be benefitted by the scheme under the Act.
During the launch of the scheme at Raha Block Development office premises, the minister and other dignitaries handed over the rice to 11 beneficiaries.
Speaking at the launch, Rakibul Hussain called for better work culture within the district to ensure better implementation of projects. �If government employees work in the right spirit, then the implementation of the programme will be in right earnest and benefit the people,� said the minister while launching the district-wide National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) and National Food Security Mission at Raha organised by Nagaon District Food and Civil Supply department.
The minister also stated that the delay in the implementation of the Act in the State was due to many factors. �We wanted to reach out to the needy, based on the socio-economic census. After due diligence, the process was completed to benefit the people. We have incorporated every section of the society and the people, who are entitled to benefit as mandated in the programme.�
The programme, according to the minister, is inclusive and is set to benefit those that really need help. �The programme will address the hunger of the people. It was a challenging task but we did it. Now the onus lies on the rightful implementation of the programme,� he said.
The launching programme was attended by Manalisa Goswami, DC, Nagaon, Pranab Sharma, DRDA Project director, Nagaon, Anarul Islam, DDS, food and civil supply, Nagaon, Bankim Funglow, area manager, FCI, Nagaon, Pallavi Kachary, circle officer, Raha, and Atafur Rahman, BDO, Raha Block besides a large number of local people and beneficiaries.
