AMUCO demands action against erring rice agents
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 04 2021:
While drawing attention of the government towards the incidents of confrontation taking place in different parts of the state in connection with distribution of rice to NFSA beneficiaries less than the entitled quota, All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) has appealed to the chief minister to look into the matter seriously and take stringent action against all defaulters.
AMUCO assistant general secretary MM Thambou noted that the government has been taking up various measures to overcome the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic and accordingly imposed lockdown and curfew so that people could stay at their homes to reduce spread of the virus.
The strict restriction imposed by the government badly hit daily wage earners as they are unable to go out and earn their livelihood.
With the spirit of collective survival and sustenance, many people are rendering help at their capacities to the needy people.
Amidst this situation, it was very unfortunate that some groups of people have emerged to deduct the rice quota of the people provided by the government under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) as a special measure to mitigate suffering during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.
Rice agents might be enjoying support of powerful politicians but their erroneous actions will not last long and people will surely stand against them someday, the AMUCO secretary said in the statement and cautioned the agents that people will definitely react against their misdeeds.
Concepts of these agents and politics they play at this time when people are unable to come out to protest against less distribution of rice due to curfew and lockdown are of very low level and uncivilised.
Agents and their political cahoots are trying to create misunderstanding among the people on NFSA and PMGKAY rice and people see evidence in this regard at many places of the state, the AMUCO leader said and asked if political leaders of the constituencies concerned where PMGKAY rice are distributed very less than the entitled quota do not feel shame.
While appealing to leaders of local clubs and organisations, Meira Paibi and social activists to stop staying silent when rice quota for the people are being snatched away in improper way, Thambou said that people of the area where improper rice distribution issue emerges are now questioning the silence of local clubs and organisations on this matter.
He further appealed to leaders of clubs and Meira Paibi to work collectively to save their image and prestige in their own area.
AMUCO will not remain silent over discrepancies in rice distribution particularly against agents who distribute only 3kg and the announcement made by the organisation in this regard few days back remains unchanged.
AMUCO is unable to perform its activities actively at present in view of ongoing curfew but the organisation will treat those siphoning off people's ration as anti-people, Thambou said, adding that people do not beg to the agents for rice but they are only demanding their entitled quota.
He also said that few selfish agents have tarnished image of entire rice agents of the state.