The Nagaland government on October 14 launched the General Household (GHH) scheme to provide subsidised rice to eligible households not covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. A total of 1,21,238 beneficiaries have been identified in the first phase of the scheme.
The scheme was launched in Dimapur by K T Sukhalu, Advisor for Food and Civil Supplies, with the objective of extending food security support to eligible households left out of the existing Public Distribution System (PDS).
Sukhalu said the initiative was intended to address the shortfall in food grain allocation following the implementation of the NFSA. He added that the number of beneficiaries was expected to increase as the scheme progressed.
The scheme is open to eligible Indian citizens, including indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland and non-indigenous residents who fulfil the prescribed conditions.
Clarifying the Centre’s Tide Over Rice allocation mechanism, Sukhalu said the arrangement had been in place since 2017 to meet additional food grain requirements. Under the system, state-appointed stockists lift food grains from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) at their own expense, subject to government regulations.
He said the department regularly received requests for rice during festivals, jubilees and other celebrations, as well as from old-age homes, destitute persons and social organisations. Assistance was also provided in certain cases, including fire incidents, based on requests from district administrations and approval from the competent authority.
Sukhalu clarified that Tide Over allocations did not amount to free distribution. Food grains supplied for relief purposes were purchased through the concerned agencies, including disaster management authorities, wherever applicable.
He said the department had taken preparatory measures to streamline distribution, address confusion over allocations and improve transparency in the implementation process.
Secretary of the Food and Civil Supplies Department Wonchio Odyuo said the GHH scheme was being implemented under state government guidelines governing Tide Over allocations under the NFSA.
Eligibility criteria for the scheme
According to the department, applicants must meet the prescribed annual income requirement of Rs 2.5 lakh or above and qualify as indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland or bona fide Indian citizens. Non-indigenous residents are required to submit a self-declaration certificate.
Under the one-card policy, eligible households must not possess an active Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), Priority Household (PHH) or any other PDS ration card.
With more than 1.21 lakh beneficiaries identified in the initial phase, the scheme is expected to extend subsidised food grain support to eligible households outside the existing NFSA coverage. The government has also emphasised streamlining distribution and improving transparency as implementation moves forward.
