Blaming NDA, Gogoi ignoring own lapse

No PDS sugar in State since 2013

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Oct 20: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has been blaming the NDA government for non-implementation of the tiol Food Securities Act (NFSA) in Assam. According to Gogoi, the NDA is to blame because its so-called reforms of the NFSA have hindered its implementation in the State, as the State government has been forced to computerize all the data related to the scheme.

However, a fact that is being ignored is that the people of the State are not receiving sugar through Public Distribution System (PDS) since 2013. It may be recalled that, back in 2013, when the Congress-led UPA government scrapped sugar distribution through PDS, the Centre instructed the State governments to procure sugar and distribute it among the people at subsidized rate through PDS. At that time, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had announced that a Food & Civil Supply Corporation will be formed in the State to monitor the PDS, but nothing came of that announcement.

Now with barely seven months left for assembly election, it is unlikely that the people of the State will again get sugar through PDS anytime soon, which mwans the next Bhogali Bihu and the Rongali Bihu will be as 'sugar-free' as the Durga Puja festive season presently under way.