ITANAGAR, Feb 11 � Arunachal Pradesh Food and Civil Supplies Minister Komlung Mosang has called upon the Centre to formulate effective policy for prompt delivery of PDS items in remote areas of landlocked Arunachal Pradesh.
Participating in a two-day national level conference on National Food Security Bill-2011 at New Delhi on February 8 and 9, Mosang said unless and until the present delivery system of PDS commodities is refurbished, the Food Security Act will do no good for the country, particularly in Arunachal.
Drawing the attention of the Centre towards the shortage of foodgrains and levy sugar in some parts of eastern and western Arunachal, the Minister further said that the distribution of foodgrains by FCI was not at all satisfactory during last five months. He said inefficient distribution of PDS items inflicted untold sufferings on the common people who solely depend on PDS.
The Food and Civil Supplies Minister urged upon the Central Government to give top priority on solution to the present food crisis in the State saying if such poor delivery system continued in future then introduction of Food Security Act would be useless.
The Minister, however, said that Arunachal Pradesh should not be equated with other States of the country in regard to distribution of PDS items as the State has been facing peculiar and innumerable problems including communication bottleneck due to its geographical location and remoteness from the mainland.
He was of the view that the Central Government should pay in cash in lieu of foodgrains in case of failure of the FCI to deliver PDS items on time. The Minister, however, added promptly that the rate of foodgrains in Arunachal Pradesh is higher than that of other States due to its remoteness.
Mosang advocated for procurement of foodgrains in a decentralised manner from the rice-producing districts like Pasighat, Roing, Tezu, Pappu Valley without the interference of the middlemen.
Pointing out the much acclaimed e-PDS which was introduced by Tirap district administration years back, the Minister informed that this model will be introduced in 18 administrative centres in the State.
The Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Power has also emphasised on revamping PDS system for implementation of Food Security Act. �A massive process re-engineering is required to make the PDS compatible with the goals of the Act,� he had said before the State Food and Agriculture Ministers on Wednesday.
