PDS rice election launch pad for contractors: Cong MLA
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 25 2021:
Stating that PDS rice has become a money minting machine for some rice contractors with traders in Imphal city sourcing their materials from the government warehouses, opposition member K Meghachandra contended that some rice contractors are even getting ready to contest in the state assembly election.
Raising a calling attention motion on the last day of the 13th session of the state legislative assembly on Tuesday, Meghachandra said that price rise of essential commodities has affected lives of common people.
Super fine rice is available in the market at the rate of Rs 25 to 35 per kilo.
Earlier, traders in Imphal city used to bring in super fine rice from Assam but today, they are getting the same from government warehouses.
As a result, some rice contractors are becoming rich and now preparing to fight election.
Unfortunately, the department is turning a blind eye to all these activities, he said.
There are issues over failure in linking Aadhaar with ration cards.
As a result, many are being deprived of their share of PDS items.
The department needs to take up a special measure to address the issue, he said.
He also expressed concern over the price hike of essential commodities like lentils, cereals, onion, atta, vegetable oil, egg, milk, sugar among others.
Petrol price has crossed Rs 100 while that of LPG price has reached over Rs 1000 from Rs 400 in UPA era.
Traders are monopolising the market by controlling price of commodities by hoarding stocks and yet the government has not been able to take up effective steps to address these issues, he said.
In response, CAF&PD minister Th Satyabrata said that there are 18,60,159 NFSA beneficiaries in the state and distributing NFSA and PMGKAY rice to all the beneficiaries is not an easy task considering the low staff strength of the department.
The department is open to suggestions to improve the distribution system, he said.
The minister further said that unlike in the past, the department is facing a tough situation in finding trucks for transporting rice and labour for loading and unloading.
At the same time, labour charges have rose and it impacted the price of commodities, he added.
The minister further said that the department is monitoring prices of 19 identified essential commodities.
There are commissions at the district and state level where the public can raise complaints if they are not happy with commodity prices.
However, the department can do nothing for other commodities not included in the identified essential commodity list.
As for the Aadhaar linking of ration card, the department in association with DCs and DSOs is outsourcing to fast track the process, the minister said.
Satyabrata asserted that the first priority of the department is to maintain the supply chain, which is to ensure availability of essential commodities with equal emphasis on ensuring that rice under NFS A and PMGKY reach the beneficiaries.