Awareness programme on NFSA 2013 conducted at JBC

Men’s Department of Jakhama Baptist Church (JBC) conducted an awareness programme on National Food Security Act 2013 (NFSA) at Jakhama Baptist Church for all churches in the village on December 4 with president of Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO), Kezhokhoto Savi as the speaker.
Savi in his speech said NFSA was the Act that the people have waited for long and, when implemented properly, would hugely uplift the general mass specially the weaker section. He was hopeful that the state government would not fail to fully implement the Act.
Savi highlighted the various provisions and transparency/accountability mechanisms incorporated in the Act.  Savi pointed out various highlights of the Act which he termed as “beauty of the Act.” The highlights were: Almost doubling the people covered under Public Distribution System(PDS) scheme 36% to 67% of the population, strengthening and expansion of the PDS, from a situation of it being dismantled to the fair price shop and the ration card system being there to stay, although not universal, it is the first step towards moving away from the poverty line based divisions of APL and BPL, states who were buying huge quantum of APL grain like Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh will continue getting it current APL prices, so at least there is no loss(schedule IV), maternal entitlements will now be universal.
It may be mentioned that the Act was implemented in Nagaland after a delay of nearly three years on June 27, 2016 initially for Dimapur and Kohima.
NVCO through its Press & Media Cell has claimed that there were cases of misuse in distribution and charges of foodgrains provided under the Act. NVCO alleged that rice was being sold at an inflated rate ranging from Rs.4 to Rs.15 which, NVCO stated, was excessive and contrary to the Act.  NVCO further said that the Food Commission and district level grievances redressal system were yet to be established.