No essential commodities provided except rice : Joykisan
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 01 2020:
Congress MLA Kh Joykisan has remarked that no essential commodity other than rice has been provided by the Government to the people confined to their homes under the country-wide lockdown.
Speaking to media persons at his Khoyathong residence today, Joykisan said that some people have been compelled to violate the lockdown in search of essential commodities particularly food items.
It seems people are not happy with the steps taken up by the Government to distribute food items and other essential commodities, he remarked.
The Government's initiative to provide NFSA rice to the people free of cost is commendable but there has been no announcement from the State Government about providing rice to people who do not possess NFSA cards, Joykisan said.
The Government has not yet made any announcement to distribute dal, cooking oil, common salt etc even though some small quantities of rice, sugar and cooking oil have been distributed to non-local people, said the Congress MLA.
If all the people of Manipur must be confined to their homes during the lockdown, all essential commodities particularly food items must be provided adequately, he said while seeking Government's attention to this end.
Even though the Government's instruction says that 4 kgs of rice should be given to each individual, all efforts are being invested to provide 5 Kgs of rice to every person of Thangmei-band AC, Joykisan said who represents the Assembly segment.
Additional quantity of rice is required to distribute 5 Kgs of rice to each individual.
This additional requirement of rice is made up from the shares of over one thousand volunteers of Thangmeiband Kendra Development Organisation (TAKDO) who have volunteered to sacrifice their shares in the interest of more needy people, Joykisan said.
He then conveyed gratitude to the volunteers of TAKDO for their sacrifice.
He said that distribution of rice and dal started in Thangmeiband district today.
All individuals listed in the voters' list would be provided rice irrespective of whether they hold NFSA cards or not.
People between 5 years and 18 years would also be given rice within a week, Joykisan said.
He then appealed to all the people to stay put at home during the lockdown period in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He further appealed to the Government to relax the lockdown for people coming out to buy essential commodities, particularly food items and medicines.