ROING/NAMSAI, SEP 19:
Arunachal Pradesh State Food Commission (APSFC) Chairman Tarh Tarak and member Maji Chokar reviewed the implementation of schemes under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 with officials of the Food and Civil Supplies, Health and Family Welfare, Education and Women and Child Development departments at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall here on Saturday.
Tarak appreciated the district administration and implementing departments for their preparedness and implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) in Lower Dibang Valley. He stressed the need to create greater awareness about the powers and functions of the State Food Commission and said the commission was committed to reaching all parts of the state, identifying implementation-related issues and facilitating grievance redressal.
He said issues raised during the meeting would be taken up with the state government. He also highlighted the government’s commitment to construct 364 kitchen sheds in schools for preparation of meals under PM POSHAN.
Tarak said the commission was pursuing measures including revision of kitchen-shed construction rates, provision of kitchen utensils and LPG cylinders in schools and enhancement of cooks’ honorarium to improve implementation of the PM POSHAN scheme under NFSA.
The chairman also highlighted concerns relating to food adulteration and the need to establish two food-testing laboratories in the state. He stressed the requirement for portable food-testing kits at locations where meals are served to beneficiaries and outlined the commission’s efforts in this regard.
APSFC member Maji Chokar briefed the meeting on the jurisdiction, powers and functions of the commission, stating that it is empowered under the NFSA to monitor and review the status and implementation of food-security schemes at the grassroots level.
ADC-cum-District Grievance Redressal Officer (DGRO) Lui Shiba, DMO Dr S.J. Mitapo, DRCHO Dr Raju Mena, DDSE Amih Lego, Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs) of Roing, Dambuk and Hunli blocks and SDFCSO Mudang Bagang apprised the commission of the status of various schemes and highlighted issues encountered during implementation.
Meanwhile, the implementation of NFSA, 2013 and allied welfare and nutrition schemes was also reviewed at a meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall in Namsai on Friday.
APSFC Chairman Tarh Tarak and members Ngasah Tangjang and Maji Choker, along with Namsai DC Lobsang Tsering, Assistant Commissioner, District Food and Civil Supplies Officer (DFCSO), District Medical Officer (DMO) and officials of concerned departments attended the meeting.
The meeting reviewed key programmes including the Public Distribution System (PDS), Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP), Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), PM POSHAN and Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY).
Discussions focused on beneficiary coverage, delivery of entitlements, implementation gaps and inter-departmental coordination, with emphasis on transparency, accountability and timely delivery of benefits to all eligible beneficiaries under NFSA and allied welfare schemes.
