The Department of Food and Civil Supplies, Government of Nagaland, on Wednesday launched the General Household (GHH) Scheme to extend subsidised rice support to eligible households not covered under the existing Public Distribution System (PDS) categories under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
The scheme was formally launched by Advisor for Food and Civil Supplies KT Sukhalu, IAS (Retd.), at the Directorate of Food and Civil Supplies in Dimapur.
Addressing the program, Sukhalu said the scheme was introduced to address the shortfall in food-grain allocation following the implementation of the NFSA and to extend food security support to households excluded from existing PDS coverage. He said 1,21,238 beneficiaries had been identified in the first phase, with the number expected to increase as implementation progresses.
Under the scheme, each eligible beneficiary will be entitled to five kilograms of rice per month at a subsidised rate on a payment basis. Distribution will be carried out through verified Fair Price Shops (FPS) in urban and rural areas, with monitoring by the respective district administrations.
Secretary of Food and Civil Supplies Wonchio Odyuo, NCS, said eligible households must meet the prescribed criteria, including an annual household income of Rs 2.5 lakh or above, and must comprise indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland or bona fide citizens of India. Non-indigenous residents are required to submit a self-declaration certificate.
Applicants must not possess active Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), Priority Household (PHH) or other Public Distribution System ration cards, in accordance with the one-card policy. Enrolment under the scheme will be Aadhaar-based.
Under the prescribed guidelines, the eldest female member of the household aged 18 years or above will be designated as the Head of Family for the ration card. In the absence of a female member, the eldest male member will be designated as the head of the family.
Sharing the implementation status, Odyuo said 26,982 GHH ration cards had been generated so far, covering 1,19,401 units, with a total food-grain allocation of 5,97,455 kilograms, according to the district-wise statement.
He said the scheme was being implemented in accordance with the State Government’s guidelines under the Tide Over allocation of the NFSA, 2013, and was expected to improve access to food grains, strengthen last-mile delivery and promote transparency in distribution.
Sukhalu also clarified that the Centre’s Tide Over Rice allocation was not a free-distribution scheme. He said the provision, in place since 2017, was intended to address additional food-grain requirements, with stockists lifting supplies from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) at their own expense, subject to government regulations.
He added that food-grain assistance for festivals, social organisations, old-age homes and relief requirements, including certain fire incidents, had been provided on a regulated basis, with purchases made through the concerned agencies and approvals obtained from the competent authorities wherever applicable.
Sukhalu said the department had undertaken groundwork to streamline distribution and address confusion surrounding the allocation mechanism. He expressed hope that the GHH Scheme would promote greater transparency and improve food security for eligible households not covered under existing NFSA categories.
The program was chaired by Director of Food and Civil Supplies Warren Holohón Yepthomi, NCS, and attended by departmental officials and staff.