Corporator decries politics in food grain distribution
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 12 2021:
Expressing concern over politicisation in distribution of food grains amidst the trying times of Covid-19 second wave by trying to change fair price shop agents in Wangkhei AC, IMC Ward Number 26 corporator Meibon Phaomei has cautioned that the people of the constituency will surely face inconveniences and shortage of food grains if the dirty politics is not stopped at once.
Speaking to media persons in this regard on Wednesday, Meibon pointed out that the daily wage earners have been severely affected by the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic.
So, to reduce some of the burdens of the poor people of the state, distribution of food grains under NFSA and PMGKAY started to people in nine constituencies out of the 10 in Imphal East district.
However, in Wangkhei AC, lobbying to change agents of fair price shops is going on.
This will cause unnecessary inconvenience to the people during this troubled time, he contended.
Stating that in the other nine constituencies of Imphal East, food grains under NFSA are being distributed to the beneficiaries by renewing and extending the fair price shops agents and even date for transporting PMGKAY food grains have been fixed, Meibon further stressed that in Wangkhei AC the date for transporting PMGKAY food grains is yet to be declared.
Moreover, district commissioner on May 10 issued an order for selecting new fair price shop agents and notified submission of forms within May 17.He asserted that the process to replace fair price shop agents is not done in any other constituencies and is only compounding woes of the people already reeling under the impact of the pandemic.
Such unwarranted move will surely create a situation where people will not be able to avail their deserving food grains if the agents resort to legal procedures to oppose selection of new fair price shop agents.
So, he urged the government led by chief minister N Biren and the CAF&PD minister to look into the matter at the earliest.
Meibon further exhorted for stopping politically motivated activities in the AC amidst the trying time of Covid-19 pandemic.