Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 17 2009:
Decrying non-release of the full allotted quatities of AAY and BPL, Fair Price Shop agents of Senapati district staged a protest demonstration in front of the Senapati DC office today.
The protesters put up placards which read as "we demand immediate release of AAY and BPL rice quotas to Senapati district", "we want justice", "replace transport contractor", "we demand dumping of PDS items at Senapati godown directly from Dimapur" etc.
Spokesperson of the Fair Price Shop Agents' Association, Senapati District, Longkhay said that 388 quintals of rice meant for 14 villages of Mao A/C for the months of January and February 2008 were not given.
PDS rice for the months of January and February 2009 were not given in some villages.
Both Karong A/C and Tadubi A/C are yet to receive PDS rice for the months of May to November this year.
Even the names of agents who have deposited the required money were not entered in the register.
Longkhay further alleged that there was no transparency when officials issued sanctions for AAY and BPL till November this year.
He said that they were compelled to stage the protest demonstration as repeated approaches to the concerned authorities to ensure transparency and allotment of full quotas have come to nothing.
Saying that they have deposited around Rs 1.5 crore, the Fair Price Shop agents maintained that they would continue with their agitation until allotted quotas of rice are released fully.
Longkhay said that would be constrained to impose total bandh in Senapati district in case the allotted quotas of rice are not released at the earliest.
Talking about the matter, president of the Senapati District Students' Association, A Pfokrerii Khrasi said that denial of PDS items to people was nothing but violation of human rights.
He noted that the demands of the FPS agents were justified.
He also appealed to the State Government as well as the district administration to consider the matter with due importance and ensure that people get PDS items to the full allotted quantities.
He said that the SDSA would take up the cause of FPS agents and launch different forms of agitation together with the agents if their demands are not fulfilled at the earliest.