RTI activists educate villagers on PDS
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 14 2011:
Around 1500 households of Sangpun, Phouoibee and Kamu Koireng villages of Senapati district under Saikul Block are getting only two per cent of the PDS benefits every year.
This was disclosed by Rural Upliftment Federation (RUF) president Mangja Vaiphei while speaking in a one-day training cum seminar on RTI held at K Somrei village today.
These villages which have around 5000 voters, get rice, sugar and kerosene under PDS five times a year, the president added.
Speaking on Public Distribution System (PDS), Mangja Vaiphei said that the Government of India has classified the people of the country into three categories based on their annual income as Above Poverty Line (APL), Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) .
He added, according to this system, APL families are entitled to get 15 Kgs of rice at the rate of Rs 8.90 per Kg every month.
Mangja Vaiphei further said, under the same scheme, 30 Kgs of rice at the rate of Rs 6.20 per Kg and 35 Kgs of rice at the rate of Rs 3.45 must be provided to BPL and AAY families respectively every month.
Kamu Koireng villager Nekmu said the villagers are still longing to see their APL, BPL and AAY cards as the authority and agent concerned never provide or show the cards to the respective families.
Another woman trainee queried on the means to get their cards and full entitled benefits under PDS.
Responding to the question, RTI activist Wahengbam Jaikumar, who took part in the programme as a resource person, said that MLA, agents and nominees are responsible for not reaching the full benefits under PDS to villagers.
He further said that they send utilisation certificate for distribution of PDS items to respective DCs every month although the items are not distributed to the villagers.
As people of the State are less concerned about all these corrupt activities, nobody bothers to file
any complaint.
Jaikumar informed the gathering that all the information regarding distribution of PDS items can be sought with RTI through Public Information Officer.