Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya on Saturday, 17 May visited Aizawl and assured the Mizoram government of continued Central support for food security, reaffirming that approximately 81 crore people across India — a figure exceeding the entire population of Europe — currently receive free ration under the world's largest food security programme.

Key Assurances from the Centre

Addressing an interaction programme organised by Mizoram's Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department, Bambhaniya said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Food for All', every effort would be made to ensure that all residents of Mizoram continue to receive sufficient and quality food. She described the scheme as the largest of its kind globally, citing its reach of 81 crore beneficiaries.

The MoS also acknowledged Mizoram's unique cultural and agricultural identity, including its GI-tagged Mizo Ginger and Mizo Chilli, and the internationally recognised Cheraw dance. She stressed, however, that the primary purpose of her visit was to understand the ground-level challenges facing the state's food distribution system.

Monsoon Disruption and Advance Ration Allocation

Recognising that heavy monsoon rains frequently sever road connectivity across the Northeastern region, Bambhaniya offered a significant operational concession: the Centre would consider providing an advance allocation of ration for up to three months before the onset of the monsoon season. This would help buffer against supply disruptions that have historically affected remote districts of states like Mizoram.

She also committed to conveying Mizoram's concerns to Union CAF&PD Minister Pralhad Joshi and to facilitating a direct meeting between state officials and the senior minister for further deliberations.

Digital Reforms in Mizoram's PDS

The MoS praised the state's progress in modernising its public distribution infrastructure, specifically commending the adoption of e-KYC, EPOS (Electronic Point of Sale), and the SMART PDS system. She said these digital tools have meaningfully improved delivery efficiency and beneficiary identification in the state.

FCI General Manager (Northeast Region) Sandeep Deora presented a detailed overview of the Food Corporation of India's ongoing initiatives in Mizoram, covering food supply logistics, warehousing capacity, current operational challenges, and proposed remedial measures.

Mizoram's Request for NFSA Quota Enhancement

Mizoram's Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister B. Lalchhanzova thanked the visiting MoS for personally assessing the state's challenges and expressed gratitude to both the Central government and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for their sustained support. He formally requested the Union Minister to consider enhancing Mizoram's National Food Security Act (NFSA) quota, arguing that an increased allocation would help fully realise the 'Food for All' objective in the state.

Lalchhanzova affirmed that the Mizoram government would continue to deepen its cooperation with the Centre to ensure no citizen is denied their rightful food entitlement. The interaction marks a renewed push for Centre-state coordination on food security in India's Northeast, a region where geography and seasonal weather patterns pose persistent supply-chain challenges.