Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 21 2010:
Poor section of the society, widows, people living with HIV etc., beneficiaries of Public Distribution System were deprived of getting rice, sugar, kerosene and other items under the PDS scheme, All Tribal Women Organisation lamented today.
Addressing the media at Reach Training Centre, Chandel, its general secretary, TK Anita Maring, alleged that even as district supply office is functioning with a district supply officer, one civil supply inspector assited by four delivery assistants, two UDCs, three drivers, four grade-IV staff, the public distribution system is unable to reach out the actual beneficiaries.
Chandel district has 11,868 APL (Above Poverty Line), 8200 BPL (Below Poverty Line) and 2614 AAY card holders.
However, when All Tribal Women Organisation conducted a survey in 10 villages of the district, it was found that out of 106 widows, only 5 APL, 3 BPL cardholder and 2 AAY card holders were getting the benefits.
At the district headquarters, there are 46 fair price shops, 46 Sk (kerosene) oil dealers and three AAY agencies.
Likewise, Tengnoupal block has 95, Chakpikarong block has 29 and Khengjoy block has 24.But most of the agents were selected with political intervention and they worked for their own interests.
PDS items could not reach the actual beneficiaries, Anita Maring observed.
Deploring that women were the worst suffererers, she suggested that distribution of PDS items would be better if were handed over to women based civil bodies.