June 14, 2021 - Shillongtoday

Shillong, Jun 14: The State government on Monday said that it is waiting for an enquiry report regarding the seizure by police of PDS rice meant for Meghalaya from a private go-down in Assam, based on which action would be initiated against the supplier.

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said that the seized rice has nothing to do with the Public Distribution System or with the COVID-19 relief but the rice was “meant for the Social Welfare department”.

“The State had already received the entire amount of the NFSA rice in advance for the months of May and June. Thefeore, there is no question of this rice being there and lying there. There’s no tag which states that this is the Meghalaya rice,” Sangma told reporters.

Meanwhile, Director of Social Welfare, D.D. Shira said that the rice seized by Assam Policefrom a go-down in Assam is claimed to have been allocated to Continental Milkcose Ltd. by FCI (Food Corporation of India), Shillong through the Social Welfare Department.

“In this regard, it is hereby clarified that the Government of India allocates rice under Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) to different States. The Directorate of Social Welfare in turn allocated the rice to the approved manufacturer (Continental Milkcose Ltd) which was lifted from the FCI go-down,” Shira stated in a press statement on Monday.

According to Shira, the manufacturer then processes it into a variety of ready to eat fortified food products in the factory which is supplied to the Anganwadi Centres under the Nutrition Programme.

“There has been no instance of non-supply of food items so far, and complete indented quantities have been received,” the Director Social Welfare stated.

According to Shira, the Directorate of Social Welfare has been sending random samples of the food items for lab analysis and quality testing from time to time to ensure that the food items supplied is no of sub-standard quality and conforms to the nutritional norms.

“The Department is awaiting official letter from the concerned I.O/Assam Government for enquiry and further appropriate action against the supplier,” the statement underscored.

The Assam Police had made the seizure from a private go-down in Boko recently.