Food Security Mission not to benefit Mizoram: John Rotluangliana

Though Mizoram government was preparing to implement the National Food Security Mission, it would not be a good scheme for the people, State Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister John Rotluangliana said on Friday.

Replying to a query from Vanlalawmpuii Chawngthu of the ruling Congress and the lone woman legislator, Rotluangliana said that only 7.01 lakh people out of ten lakh population of the state would be able to avail rice through PDS if the scheme is implemented.

"The rural people are receiving eight kilo per month now and they would only get five kilo at the rate of Rs 3 a kilo if and when the Food Security Act is implemented," he said. The minister said that Mizoram did not face any shortage of foodstuff due to the 'mega block' caused by widening works of railroad at the Lumding-Badarpur sector in Assam since October 1.

"We are having rice stock to last three months," he said, adding that the state government recently procured 30,000 quintals of rice from local market. The mega block, affecting supply of essential commodities in Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and southern parts of Assam was likely to continue for six months.