Nongpoh, Jul 28: The Ri-Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF) has expressed concern over the delayed socio-economic census.
To discuss the subject, the organisation held a special executive committee meeting on Monday.
According to the RBYF the Socio-Economic and Caste Census, which should take place every 10 years, is crucial to identify and support poor households under government welfare schemes.
While agreeing that the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, has benefited many families, RBYF president Bipul Thangkhiew said, “Many families continue to benefit from ration distribution, especially after the implementation of biometric identification. However, numerous individuals who have passed away have not been officially removed from records, and no new names have been added so far.”
He emphasized that the government should not only remove names of deceased beneficiaries but must also ensure that newly formed households and individuals, not included in the 2011 census. are added. “Merely deleting the names of the deceased without updating the list with new eligible members is unacceptable,” he stated.
Thangkhiew stressed that the government cannot justify its inaction by citing delays in conducting the new census. If it can remove names of the deceased, it must equally accommodate new births and households that have emerged since.
He further added that, regardless of the number of deceased members, entire villages should continue to receive their full allocation of ration rice, so the leftovers can be distributed among other eligible families that are currently excluded.
The RBYF has decided to meet the Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi with an appeal for immediate and urgent attention to the issue in the interest of the public, especially the economically weaker sections of society.
