Minister rules out foul play
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 22 2016 :
CAF&PD Minister Ksh Biren has
categorically stated that there is no question of forfeiture, diversion
or siphoning off of rice meant for distribution to beneficiaries of
NFSA.
Speaking to media persons at his Old Secretariat office
today, Ksh Biren stated that the Government has started dis-
tribution of rice at Rs 3 per Kg to beneficiaries under NFSA.
Informing that generation of ration cards is also on the
verge of completion, Biren stated rice quotas which could not
be lifted earlier are still stocked at the department's Sangaiprou
godown and the same can be lifted any time.
If any beneficiary does not get the exact quantity of rice
entitled to him/her under NFSA and he/she lodges a complaint
under Section 8 of the same Act, there are arrangements for
the Government to pay 'food security allowance', Biren in-
formed.
Reacting to BJP Manipur Pradesh election campaign
committee convenor Th Chaoba's allegation about rice scam
in the State, Ksh Biren asserted that there is no question of
diversion or siphoning off of rice entitled to NFSA benefici-
aries.
A seasoned politician should not make baseless
allegations without evidence.
Informing that NFSA rice allocated for Bishnupur district
for the month of April has not been lifted nor distributed fully
to beneficiaries till date, the CAF&PD Minister appealed to Th
Chaoba to assist in distributing rice to all the beneficiaries to
the exact quantity entitled to them.
Meanwhile it is reported that an inspection drive has been
launched to check how much of NFSA rice have been lifted
and how much are yet to be lifted from godowns.
Whereas there are many complaints about non-distribution
of NFSA rice or distribution of rice in lesser quantities, there
is little space left for storing rice in godowns as they are
literally full.
As such, the department has launched an inspec-
tion drive to ascertain the quantities of rice lifted from
godowns for each Assembly segment and publish a Constitu-
ency-wise report on the matter, informed an official source.
Nominees of MLAs should come to godowns together
with their agents and lift rice allocated under NFSA for their
respective Assembly segments.
For lifting rice from the
godowns, transporters have been providing vehicles without
charging any money, added the source.