Arunachal seeks Central help for implementing NFSA

Arunachal Pradesh Food and Civil Supplies Minister Kamlung Mosang has sought the help of Centre in overcoming the challenges in implementing the National Food Security Act in the state, official sources said.

In a memorandum submitted to Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution K V Thomas at Guwahati yesterday, the minister sought funds from the Centre for meeting the expenses of the state food commission, district grievances redressal officers and their staff, besides seeking special allocation of S K oil(kerosene) especially to Tawang, West Kameng, Lower Subansiri, Upper Subansiri, Kurung Kumey and Anjaw districts.

"Due to a blanket ban on felling of trees, the people in the high-altitude districts are forced to rely on S K oil for heating," the minister said.

He also requested the Centre to either set up a sugar stockist at the regional level to enable the state to procure sugar for distribution under the NFSA, or enhance the sugar subsidy.

Mosang discussed the problems faced by the state during a meeting of Food ministers and secretaries of NE states, including Sikkim on 'Implementing National Food Security Act (NFSA) and augmenting storage capacity' chaired by the Union minister in Guwahati yesterday.