Locals shut FPS for denying entitled rice
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 28 2016: A fair price shop (FPS) was forced to shut down by womenfolk and local club leaders after beneficiaries were denied the exact quantity of rice entitled to them under National Food Security Act (NFSA) at Brahmapur Bamon Leikai in Imphal East.

"We're ready to surrender all ration cards if the authority concerned does not address the issue at the earliest.

All beneficiaries have refused to lift rice", a local meira paibi leader threatened.

A large number of residents, including representatives of meira paibi and Brahmapur Social Club, stormed the fair price shop located at Brahmapur Nahabam after receiving reports that beneficiaries were denied the subsidised quantity of rice on June 26 .

The FPS agent, Gurumayum Indramani Sharma was forced to discontinue the rice distribution activities and later forced to shut the fair price shop.

Under the Act, which was implemented in the State in April, each eligible person is entitled to 5 kg of food grain a month�rice at Rs 3 per kg.

The Act lays stress upon those beneficiaries holding Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) cards by providing 35 kg of rice.

Recently, beneficiaries of the Act in several parts of the State refused to lift distributed rice complaining that the agents did not provide them the actual quantity in different parts of the State.

For Manipur which lives solely on rice, the State Government does not take wheat quota and hence it gets more rice provided under the Act.

State Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Minister Ksh Biren Singh had recently threatened to take action against those who fail to distribute full quota rice to the beneficiaries under the Act.

The Minister's warning came in the wake of media reports alleging widespread abuse of NFSA rice quota in the State.

BSC general secretary Guruaribam Rajesh Sharma told Newmai News Network that the club leaders are meeting the Deputy Commissioner concerned tomorrow to bring about a solution.

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