Food security to benefit 2.42 lakh people in Lakhipur

SILCHAR, August 17: Food Security Ordinance now pending before the Parliament if passed would benefit 2.42 lakh people in the sub division of Lakhipur, a backward region of Cachar, located on the eastern fringe on the border of Manipur. It is a sub division where various tribes and non tribes as well as tea tribes present a homogenous culture and tradition. Though various centrally sponsored welfare schemes and projects have been implemented in the region, faulty and often corrupt system stands in the way of reaching their benefits to the target groups of people.
The concern expressed by the social bodies is on proper implementation in a fair and transparent manner of the Food Security Ordinance, considered against the fate of many schemes and the target of adverse public criticism. Apprehension is that the food security might open another flood–gate of corruption.
It was long ago that the well known American economist Chester Bowles, who was also the ambassador representing his country in India, said the initiative of New Delhi to mitigate the sufferings of poor and deprived people was laudable, but the fault lay in their implementation.
Nabarun Bhattacharjee, Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) of Lakhipur sub division, however asserted that all out efforts would be made by his administration to ensure that the Food Security Ordinance was implemented in letter and spirit in order to eliminate the possibility of anomalies and irregularities which had come to plague many flagship programmes of the government.
This benefit would be available to the stated number of people below the income of Rs 1 lakh. This assertion came during his address on the occasion of the Independence Day celebration in the campus of Earle Higher Secondary School of the town of Lakhipur after unfurling the tricolour.
Nabarun Bhattacharjee did not miss to say that Lakhipur constituency represented by Dinesh Prasad Goala, MLA, for the 7th consecutive term, was included in the Chief Minister’s special package for development in various sectors. It was also the occasion to say that a food processing unit would be set up at Fulertal though he did not mention anything about the revival of the fruit processing unit that existed in the 70’s in view of the abundant production of pineapples in the Hmarkhawlein areas.
Nabarun Bhattacharjee at the same time gave a picture of development in the sub division and the commitment of the Gogoi Government to work for the benefits of common masses. Departmental grants were distributed after the ceremonial flag hoisting. 197 ASHA workers were given a cheque of Rs 1,380 each for purchasing mobile set. Besides, many other developmental works were covered by his I–Day speech. (SentinelAssam)