93 village grain banks to be established in Manipur

Imphal, Sep 20 (UNI) Manipur will have 93 more new village grain banks Manipur Information Centre (MIC) officials here today said.

The state government was concerned with the distribution of essential items and strengthening of public distribution system.

The issue of food scarcity and non distribution of items, meant for interior areas of the state, were discussed during the state Assembly's monsoon session earlier.

All the state's Secretaries of Food and Civil Supplies meeting in New Delhi discussed regarding the improvement of the existing public distribution system and opening of village grain banks in the country.

State Director of Food and Civil Supplies (FCS) A Ibocha Singh in the meeting said their state would have 93 village grain banks in order to meet the scarcity of food in the state.

The Union Secretary of Food and Public Distribution instructed all the states and UT's to check pilferage and diversion of essential commodities.

Mr Ibocha Singh said the cost of each bank would be around Rs 60,000.

Mr Singh also mentioned that places like Tipaimukh, Henglep, Thanlon, Tousem and Phungyar in the state are prone to food scarcity.

Mr Singh who is also the director of state tourism department met the Union Tourism ministry officials here and persuaded them to sanction the various schemes proposed by the state government.

UNI NS PP SS1136