Legal Awareness prog on PDS held
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 12, 2012: A One day Legal Awareness Programme on Public Distribution System (PDS) was held at Brahmapur Nahabam Leikai Basketball Ground today.

The awareness programme was jointly organised by Lamjing Thawan Association and Dharmalaya Social Welfare Nahabam under the sponsorship of Manipur State Legal Services Authority.

Speaking on the occasion, Director of Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) M Rakesh said that the 60 MLAs and their agents have been swindling all the PDS items like rice, sugar, kerosene meant for the common people.

Even though the targeted populations do not get these items regularly, official records showed that these items are being distributed regularly.

He explained that the name PDS has changed into Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) since 1997 and many essential items are being distributed to three types of card holders namely BPL, APL and AAY.

Under these schemes, a card holder is entitled to get 35 kg of rice every month at the rate fixed by the government.

But the people of Manipur hardly get any of these TPDS items regularly.

Rakesh further pointed out that the Centre provides 5 litres of kerosene for every household in the state through TPDS.

However, the MLAs siphoned off one litre of kerosene from every household, which.

is around 3000 litres of kerosene every month.

The agents again swindled the remaining items and sell them in black.

On the other hand, the target beneficiaries seldom get the facilities provided by the government.

Even though they seldom get the items, the agents regularly submit utilisation certificates stating that the items are being distributed to the targeted populations regularly.

Instead of thinking themselves as representatives of the people, the MLAs and Ministers are acting like ruler of the people and swindling all the benefits of the common people.

In such situation, it is essential for the people of the state to be aware of their legal rights and sought the help of law court to get their rightful share of the TPDS items, Rakesh exhorted, while informing that the people can lodged their complaint with the Consumers' Court at Sangaiprou to get rightful share of TPDS items.

Member Secretary of Manipur State Legal Services Authority A Guneshwar said that the Article 39 (A) of Indian Constitution provides provisions for free legal aid to some select people.

Accordingly, the Legal Services Authority Act 1987 was implemented since November 9, 1995.Under this Act, a person whose annual income is Rs 50,000 and below, victims of rape, trafficking, domestic violence, minors and disabled persons can avail free legal aid.

At present, Manipur has two legal aid clinics, one at LMS Law College and the other at Academy of Law Oinam, where any of these special category people can seek legal aid.

President of Dharmalaya Social Welfare Centre B Tombi, Additional District and Session Judge Manipur East M Manojkumar, Secretary of Brahmapur Nahabam Women's Welfare Association H Tombisana attended the function as presidium members.

Assistant Director of HRLN Th Premlata talked on 'Women and Law' while Public Prosecutor Ngangom Tejkumar on 'Arrest and Detention'.

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