The National People’s Party (NPP) Nagaland State is greatly dissatisfied and miffed at the manner in which the State Government has been trying its best to elude questions posed to it by various civil societies and NGOs on issues and matter related to the well-being and development of the State including the PDS. Since the enactment of National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, the scope of PDS has been widened with the increase of level of subsidies and expansion of coverage up to 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of urban population under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
When irregularities in PDS are observed in the context of Nagaland, several studies and reports have highlighted rather grim situation. As per an estimate, the average leakage from off-taken food grains of PDS in the country was 46.7 percent in the year 2011-2012. In their state-wise leakage estimation, Nagaland state was shown to have 94.7% percent leakage of PDS off-taken food grains in the same year. The report of the audit conducted by Comptroller and Auditor General of India during the period from 2005 to 2011 had also unearthed serious irregularities in the state’s PDS structure.
Moreover, the CAG report revealed that the department of Food and Civil Supplies issued ration-cards randomly. Some other anomalies reported were large scale diversion of food grains to open market; allocation of food grains to non-existent institutions, hostels and Village Grain Banks, short allocation, short lifting and delayed distribution of food grains, charging higher rates and inadequate infrastructure etc. CAG in its report of 2011 had concluded that all these anomalies and corrupt practices had seriously affected implementation of PDS in Nagaland.
It is also unfortunate that there are no adequate storage depots and warehouses in any of the districts. Even the FCI facilities, including the one in Dimapur, lack proper infrastructure and monitoring by the state agencies due to which a huge quantity of rice and other commodities end up in the private godowns of unscrupulous businessmen. Where is the efficacy of the state machinery in controlling and eradicating such rampant corruption?
It has been found that the State Government has extended the number of state stockists handling Tide Over Rice for the year 2022 to 2023 as per an official notification dated 18th February, 2022. NPP, Nagaland State is aware that the tide over allocation of rice under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) which has been released from May 2022 to March 2023 amounts to 3873 MT per month to all districts in Nagaland but no proper records of the distribution have been found till date. According to the above allocation the following districts should receive tide over rice as shown here in MT through their respective Stockists. Mokokchung – 400, Wokha – 380, Phek – 300, Peren – 200, Tseminyu – 100, Kohima – 400, Longleng -200, Dimapur – 448, Kiphire – 220, Shamatore – 100, Mon – 400, Niuland – 100, Chumukedima – 100, Noklak – 100, Tuensang – 125 and Zunheboto – 300. In 2018 as well as in 2019, a forum called Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) had raised serious concerns over the selection of state stockists and allocation without properly identifying the targeted beneficiaries. They had also discovered that TPDS was non-existent and there were no proper records despite the state receiving more than surplus items each month from the Centre.
Nagaland receives 16,625 MT annually with monthly allocation of 1385 MT of rice and under PHH, Nagaland receives 76,331 MT with monthly allocation of 6360 MT. According to this supply and distribution, every individual in Nagaland should have received an average amount of 4 Kgs of rice per month with approximately 20 Lakh Population. Where have all these huge quantities of rice disappeared? Who have been the indirect beneficiaries of the PDS for so many years? NPP demands that the people responsible for all these corrupt practices should be exposed in public and appropriate action be taken.
On a more ingenious note, it would really help the rural farmers, if they are provided with more incentives for local produce instead of solely relying on the PDS. The State Government can mull over a programme whereby the funds allocated for PDS can be utilized for subsidies, agricultural loans and for procuring better seeds, modern equipments and organic manures for the local farmers which will create a better local economy. We also make a fervent appeal to all concerned Civil Societies, NGOs and citizens of Nagaland to always question the State Government on issues related to the development of the state and also rise and claim what is legally and rightfully theirs.
National People’s Party, Nagaland State