Central team assures action

Imphal, September 27 : The official team of the Central Vigilance Committee which is currently at Imphal on a three-day visit to the State to oversee the mechanism of Public Distribution System has given its assurance to help in setting up fair price shops by the women-folk of Luwangsangbam Awang Leikai under Heingang Assembly Constituency in Imphal East District.

For the second day, the official team of the Central Vigilance Committee which arrived at Imphal yesterday, conducted public hearing at Hotel Imphal here today.

During the public hearing, representatives of the Imoinu Self Help Group, Luwangsangbam Awang Leikai complained that they have been receiving only 10 kgs AAY and BPL rice each and one or 2 litres of kerosene oil.

However, after 10 years and on learning about the visit of the Central Vigilance Committee, they were given 5 kgs of APL rice yesterday.

Further, pointing out that they have no place where they could lodge complaint in connection with denial of PDS items, the women representatives requested permission for opening a fair price shop to be run by themselves.

After listening to the complaint as well as request, the Committee chairperson explained that atleast Rs 1 lakh would be required for opening a fair price shop.

When the chairman inquired whether they would be able to arrange the money, the womenfolk promptly replied in the affirmative.

To this, the chairman suggested that opening of just a fair price shop selling only PDS items would not be enough and they should consider including everyday items like soaps, utensils, etc.

The chairman asked the womenfolk to submit an application if they intended to open the fair price shop.

Accordingly, an application in the name of Imoinu Self Help Group had been submitted.

Taking a cue from the proceeding hearing, the Luwangsangbam Matai Women's Welfare Association also submitted a similar application requesting for opening a fair price shop.

Representatives of Kongpal Mutum Leikai, New Checkon, Tamenglong Public Forum and social workers from Churachandpur district were among those who attended the public hearing.

From the side of Tamenglong Public Forum, it was complained that the PDS items allocated to Tamenglong district are being sold in black market and earning profit by the staff of SDO office.

It was also pointed out that last year, NSCN (IM) intercepted 10 rice laden trucks from Noney along National Highway 53 and the same were seized by the FCS Minister the following day and kept inside the police station.

However, no action had been taken up by the police and how the matter had been resolved is not known.

The complaint from the side of the social workers of Churachandpur district noted that PDS items are not being received by the people in time as there is problem of transportation.

In another complaint, it was pointed out that families under polling station no.4/3, Kongpal Mutum Leikai in Imphal East district are in possession of APL, BPL and Annapurna cards together.

The PDS items like rice and sugar were not provided to the beneficiaries in accordance to the cards with the agents maintaining that the card system is not applicable any more.

After the public hearing, the Central Vigilance Committee visited some of the fair price shops in Imphal East district and interacted with their agents to understand how the PDS items are being made available to the people and the difficulties being faced by the agents apart from explaining the measures to be taken up by the Government to improve the PDS system.