Seizure of rice: No question of scam as Meghalaya already received its quota, clarifies CM 

SHILLONG:

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday reiterated that the state has already received its quota of rice under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) as well as the fortified food products meant for the Anganwadi Centres under the Nutrition Programme.

Sangma said that there was a lot of confusion regarding the reported seizure of one lakh bags of rice from a godown of Maruti Quality Products Pvt Ltd (MQPPL) and clarified that the seized rice was not part of the NFSA or relief provided by the Government of India.

“It was alleged that one lakh bags of rice were found, which again is incorrect because there were only 33000 bags,” he said, adding that the rice was part of the ingredients for the fortified food products.

He also refuted allegations of a scam involving the micronutrients energy-dense fortified food and explained that these fortified food products are a result of a mixture of different nutrients and ingredients, of which rice is one of them.

“Yes, rice is sourced from FCI (Food Corporation of India). This rice is then processed and mixed with other ingredients – then it is repacked and ready for distribution. This is something that is regularly tested and maintained and supply and quality in the last many years have already been received. So, these allegations regarding fortified food that there is some kind of a supposed scam going on is completely wrong,” Sangma said.

It was informed that the approved supplier/manufacturer (Continental Milkcose Ltd) takes a certain amount of rice from the FCI to Gurgaon, Delhi for fortification and after processing, they bring it back to Meghalaya.

There was also an allegation regarding the involvement of manufacturers rather than Self Help Groups (SHGs), to which the CM replied that the government was only going as per norms. 

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of women and child development in 2014, it was mentioned that it is advisable that the state governments and union territories to get the nutritious food prepared, manufactured by only competent and capable groups or entities, comply with the stipulation as laid down under the revised norms irrespective of whether these are SHGs, Mahila Mandals, village committees or a manufacturer and strictly adhere to it.

Sangma pointed out that as per the guidelines, the stress is that whoever gives – whether it’s the SHGs or village committees, the food should be prepared and manufactured by competent groups or entities.

Reacting to allegations that there were some groups that have been blacklisted, Sangma refuted the allegations and said that these were companies that have been approved.

Meanwhile, the state government had sought a report and clarification from the Assam police and the manufacturer on the seizure of bags of rice.

(Edited by Ibankyntiew Mawrie)

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