Meghalaya fails to provide foodgrains to BPL

Shillong, Apr 22: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has indicted the Meghalaya government for failing to provide foodgrains to the Below Poverty Line population under the targeted public distribution system and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families.

'' Lifting of foodgrains from the Food Corporation of India on the basis of estimated Below Poverty Line population under the targeted public distribution system and Antyodaya Anna Yojana ignoring the identified beneficiaries has resulted in additional subsidy burden of Rs 13.02 crore on the Union government, '' the report revealed.

The main objective of, subsidy and management of foodgrains was to ensure food security in the state by maintaining buffer stock of foodgrains and implementation of a targeted PDS for providing foodgrains to the public at affordable prices.

The report also pointed out the delay in distribution of special ration cards to the AAY families contrary to the directives of the Supreme Court.

''Out of 13, 500 families covered under the AAY in May 2005, distribution of special ration cards to 1,743 families was completed in May 2005. Consequently, foodgrains were issued to these families from July 2005 thereby depriving them of the subsidy benefit", the CAG report said.

The CAG report further stated that 82,957 of rations cards were issued to the Above Poverty Line (APL) families in Shillong Sadar sub-division, which was against the existing 67.755 APL families, indicating existence of 15, 202 bogus ration cards.

After its findings, the CAG recommended the Meghalaya government to streamline the implementation of the scheme by identifying beneficiaries mainly under the BPL and AAY to ensure that only the persons belonging to really poor and vulnerable sections of the society were selected.

The CAG also suggested supply of foodgrains at the prescribed quantity to the identified beneficiaries and proper implementation of various foodgrains-based schemes, launched by the Centre.

Inspection, vigilance and evaluation mechanism needed to be strengthened and made functional, the report said adding the state government should ensure that the targeted community was aware of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

UNI