PANJIM: The much-awaited National Food Security Act 2013 (NSFA) was launched in Goa after missing deadlines on three occasions. Ministers advised beneficiaries not to keep away from agriculture and farming as grains are available under this Act at very low rates.
NSFA was launched on Wednesday in Panjim by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza, Civil Supplies Minister Dayanand Mandrekar and others. Food grains were distributed to two people from each taluka at the function to mark the launch.
Around 5.11 lakh rural as well as urban residents of Goa will be covered under this act and almost 1.28 lakh ration cards have been issued by Civil Supplies department. Under this Act the beneficiaries will be entitled to receive 35 kg of food grain per card per month at the rate of Rs 3 and Rs 2 per kg of rice and wheat, respectively.
Speaking at the function Parsekar said that the scheme is not to keep people away from agriculture and cultivation.
“Government will give 100% monthly quota of food grains under this Act but don’t neglect agriculture and farming, don’t waste your precious fertile lands. I am also farming till date and will continue the same, if not paddy than please grow some cash crops,” Parsekar said.
Civil Supplies Minister Dayanand Mandrekar said he has directed the department to rectify mistakes in ration cards and complete the correction procedure within three months.
Mandrekar also emphasized on the need of agricultural activities. “Don’t stop farming and agriculture because of this scheme under NSFA Act. Government is spending crores of rupees to boost agriculture in the State,” Mandrekar said.
Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza said that if people distance themselves from agriculture than farming activity will be at loss.
The only Congress MLA present on the dais, Pandurang Madkaikar, said the government should not compromise on the quality of grains supplied to the people. He said that this was an ambitious scheme initiated by Sonia Gandhi and finalized during the tenure of Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister. He said the Act was later implemented by the BJP government without any changes.
