ITANAGAR, Aug 11: State Food Commission Chairman Tarh Tarak called on Governor of Arunachal Pradesh Lt General (Retd) KT Parnaik at Lok Bhavan here on Tuesday and discussed measures to strengthen food security mechanisms and improve delivery of welfare benefits across the state.
The discussions focused on ensuring that food security benefits reach every eligible citizen, particularly those residing in remote and border areas, a communique from the Lok Bhavan said.
The Governor emphasized the need for greater transparency and accountability in the implementation of food security programmes. He advised the Commission to promote regular social audits of the Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-Day Meal Scheme and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) to identify gaps, prevent leakages and strengthen public confidence in welfare schemes.
Emphasizing the role of technology in improving governance, Parnaik recommended greater use of digital tools for efficient food distribution. He suggested end-to-end digitization of the supply chain through GPS-enabled transportation, electronic Point of Sale (e-PoS) devices, Aadhaar-enabled authentication and real-time monitoring systems.
Such measures, he said, would enhance transparency, minimize pilferage and ensure timely delivery of food grains across the state.
The Governor also stressed the need to move beyond food availability towards nutrition security. He advocated greater inclusion of locally available nutritious foods, including millets, fruits, vegetables, eggs and pulses, in government nutrition programmes.
He called for special attention to children, pregnant women, lactating mothers and other vulnerable sections to address malnutrition and improve the overall health and well-being of the people, the communique said.
The Chairman was accompanied by the Commission members Maji Chokar and Ngasah Tanjang.