FPS agents cry foul
Source: The Sangai Express
Ukhrul, January 23 2023:
Fair Price Shop (FPS) agents of 43- Phungyar and 44-Ukhrul ACs have expressed their resentment against the Department of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (CAF and PD) over the alleged irregularities in the food grain distribution system.
Briefing media persons at Dungrei Hungpung in Ukhrul today, area coordinator of Ukhrul, L Luingam said that transportation costs for nine months for the rationing agents have not been paid by the contractor concerned.
He said that the responsibility of transporting food grains from the FCI godowns to FPSs at different locations lies with the rationing agents but transportation costs for nine months have not been paid to them.
The area coordinator of Kamjong Sub-Division Somaya Chithung, on the other hand, claimed that rice allocation for their area doesn't match with the record of online transactions.
According to him, there is a record of 195 ration card holders at his centre but he received ration for only 135 .
Stating that FPS agents have repeatedly requested the department to rectify the alleged anomaly, he added that no positive response has been given to them as of yet.
He also claimed that none of the FPS agents of Ukhrul and Kamjong have received their entitled agent margin.
According to Luingam, rationing agents of 44-Ukhrul AC have submitted their honorarium service bill (agent margin) for eight month (upto November 2022 amounting to Rs 14,28,464 for 101 FPS agents) but the department hasn't initiated any process to disburse the pending bill.
He appealed to the transport contractor concerned to release the payment for the cost incurred and allocate sufficient ration to them.
The FPS agents might launch an intense agitation from next month onwards if the demand is not entertained, he cautioned.