IMPHAL, March 29: The Sustainable Livelihood Forum Manipur demanded the State government to announce the measures taken up to increase food productivity, the distribution system of PDS item and the definition of food.
Speaking to media persons at a press conference held today at Manipur Press Club its convenor, Sangnaidar Tonthang said Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) was introduced in India in June 1997 in order to ensure availability of the minimum quantities of basic essential commodities to the consumers, especially to the poor masses at fairly uniform prices, which is lesser than open market price.
While implementing these schemes in different districts of Manipur, a large number of cases of violation of entitled rights of the poor such as improper selection of beneficiaries, interferences by elected representatives, irregular distribution of PDS items, distribution of PDS items which are not at par with the approve prices, less quality of PDS item, unavailability of proper Fair Price Shops in the remote village, etc are reported.
She further said that the State government is struggling to implement and streamline the National Food Security Act 2013 into action.
The various public welfare schemes launched by the Central Government through State for the benefit of the poor and marginalized people could not reach the targeted population.
Manipur is an agrarian state and due to this fact agriculture is the most important source of economy of the State.
More than 75 percent of the people of Manipur are dependent upon agriculture for their daily living. Agriculture sector in Manipur employs around half of the total workforce of the State.
She stated that statistically the agricultural production of cereals, pulses and food grains of Manipur for the last 10 years do not show an adequate increase to meet the estimate requirement inspite of high increase of daily requirement by the people of Manipur.
Core-member, K Pradip Kumar said that the government must enact Land Use Policy in order to protect the lands which are use for agriculture, by not letting them use it for any other purpose.
Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/forum-announces-measures-to-augment-food-productivity/