The Manipur government has warned its employees, who have National Food Security Act (NFSA) cards, to surrender the same within seven days or face disciplinary action.

An office memorandum issued by special secretary (home), H. Gyan Prakash, said the data available with the Union ministry of consumer affairs and food and public distribution indicates that 88.75 per cent of rural and 85.75 per cent of urban population of Manipur are covered by the NFSA, 2013.

However, it has been found that a number of government employees, who are ineligible, have been issued NFSA cards and were getting rice under the scheme at the cost of eligible household, who have not been issued cards.

The government has decided to direct all government employees, who possess NFSA cards to surrender the same by contacting the offices of the concerned deputy commissioners through phone or e-mail within seven days from Wednesday.

If the cardholder employees fail to do so, disciplinary action will be taken under the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965 along with action under section of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, warned the memorandum.

In order to alleviate the hardship of the people during the lockdown, the state government has been distributing 4kg of rice per head in every household through the elected people’s representatives in all 60 Assembly constituencies.