MPCC raises posers on NFSA rice, gas price
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 14 2023:
Along with taking serious note of non-distribution of rice under National Food Security Act (NFSA) to beneficiaries since December last year; Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has asked why the BJP-led government in Manipur is unable to provide cooking gas at Rs 500 when the Congress-led government in Rajasthan is able to do so.
Addressing a press meet held at Congress Bhawan here on Tuesday, MPCC spokesperson Ningombam Bhupenda held Prime Minister Narendra Modi and industrialist Gautam Adani responsible for frequent hiking of prices of goods, which in turn is affecting the common people badly.
Manipur is also being affected, considering it is now facing shortage of potable water amidst shortage of rice.
People are also facing difficulty in buying cooking gas, all of which is caused by crony capitalism.
He continued that it is unfortunate of the state government not to deliver the NFSA rice to the beneficiaries, when traders are selling the same in the market at the rate of Rs 1750 per bag.
He enquired the origin of the rice being sold by the traders and the rice sanctioned for the state, while remarking that it will be difficult for the people to stay alive in such a situation.
Recalling the announcement made by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution on December 28 last year of continuing to provide free rice to beneficiaries, Bhupenda said that the same was intimated to the state's principal secretary of Food & Civil Supply Department for distribution of the same from January to December 31 this year.
However, no rice has been distributed nor the biometric authentication of beneficiaries especially of those residing in remote areas via camps, as stated in the announcement, has been conducted.
As such, he questioned whether the beneficiaries, whose biometric authentication has been delayed due to internet issues, will be denied their entitled NFSA rice.
Regarding the shortage of water, the MPCC spokesperson recounted that the then Congress government had laid the pipeline from Thoubal Dam to Chingkhei Ching but the incumbent BJP government has been unable to provide potable water to the people for over 6 years.
This is due to lack of plan ning on the part of the ruling government, he said, while remarking that the people would have received their entitled rice, affordable cooking gas and access to safe drinking water if the state was under Congress rule.