ZB urges Govt to ensure ration provision to tenants
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 20 2021:
Highlighting the hardships being faced by people from the hills presently staying in different localities of Imphal as tenants during the curfew, Zeliangrong Baudi and its frontal organisations have appealed to the government to take up an effective mechanism for delivering food grains to these groups of people.
In a statement, ZB said that there are reports of many citizens from hill districts who are presently staying in Imphal as tenants being left out and not getting any food grains or essential commodities since the beginning of pandemic.
The criteria maintained in all the ACs for availing food grains or essential commodities distributed by the government are based on the condition of permanent residency in the localities with enrolment in the voters' lists of the respective AC, and beneficiaries of AAY and NFSA.
However, those people from hills districts staying in rented houses specially students and youngsters pursuing education through online mode classes, doing part time works, selling vegetables, engaging in different odd jobs and presently living in Imphal as tenants in different localities are neither enrolled in the voters' lists of their respective localities nor possess ration cards.
As a result, they are deprived food grains or any commodities distributed by the government.
The imposition of restriction on people's movement, declaration of lockdowns and promulgation of curfews from time to time to contain the contagion has made these people to suffer the most in this difficult and hard time, the statement said while urging the government to work out an effective mechanism or specific policy to make every citizen get equal opportunity and benefit.
These groups of people, who are staying as tenants, are the ones who suffer the most at this crucial and hard time while struggling for clearance of their monthly house rent as well as trying to meet their daily requirements.
The government should identify and prioritise those tenants who are facing immense hardships at this hard time rather than emphasising on citizens whose names are in the voters' lists or are beneficiaries of PDS scheme.
In order to provide food grains to these groups of people, the government can collect their details from their respective house owners or local clubs and include their names among the list of beneficiaries after proper authentication and verification, ZB suggested.
The Baudi then drew attention of the CM and the CAF&PD minister to ensure every deserving citizen are not left or missed out while implementing PMGKAY.