AHTA to take legal action against Ukhrol SDO office over PDS rice 'deduction'
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul, July 19 2018: All Hunphun Tangs Association (AHTA) has expressed strong resentment against the SDO office, Ukhrul for "illegal deduction" of NFSA rice while distributing rice from the godown concerned.

In a press conference held today at AHTA office, Wino Bazar, Ukhrul, secretary of AHTA Khamung Mashangva stated that the FPS agents of Ukhrul District approached the association and shared their problems and alleged irregularities in the department concerned.

The AHTA after hearing the grievances of the FPS agents of the district, unanimously resolved that responsible officer Assistant Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Ukhrul who is also in charge of SDO Office is answerable to the alleged deduction and others, said the secretary and added that they will file suit in the Court if the officer failed to clarify on the matter.

The AHTA further questioned the authorities concerned why the SDO was appointed to look after the CAF & PD office affairs when CAF & PD Department officers including DSO are available.

"15 % of the total quotas for March was deducted at the Sangaiprou FCI godown in Imphal.

And the SDO office, Ukhrul deducted half quintal of NFSA rice from every FPS agents while distributing the rice for the month of May," alleged AHTA.

This is totally against the NFSA Act and guidelines, said AHTA.

According to AHTA and the FPS agents, the monthly NFSA rice allocation for three Assembly Constituencies (Phungyar, Ukhrul and Chingai) is 7216.16 quintals including AAY beneficiaries of Ukhrul district.

As per NFSA Act, PDS rice has to be transported to door step of the Fair price shop in every villages.

Instead of addressing the problems of FPS agents, the SDO Ukhrul's 'regressing' attitude has added much woes to the beneficiaries of Ukhrul.

Even though the former DSO, Ukhrul had collected necessary documents of the beneficiaries for computerization of ration cards last year, yet again the SDO Ukhrul has notified the beneficiaries to submit their ration cards and others relevant documents to the office for verification, asserted the AHTA.

The FPS agents are deprived of many services in the office.

The officer has no concern for them, alleged the association.

When interacting with some beneficiaries of Ukhrul town, some of them told this correspondent that the FPS agents provided them only 4 Kgs of rice, deducting 1 kgs each from every person.

The FPS agents would write -"full quotas received" in their ration cards, said the beneficiaries.

All Hunphun Tangs Association (AHTA) appealed the officer concerned to release the deducted NFSA rice immediately and warned that the association will resort to democratic agitation and will pursue the matter to the Court for legal action against the concerned SDO, Ukhrul.

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