Minister Okendro urges MLAs for support to make PDS successful
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 21 2013 :
Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (CAF&PD) Minister M Okendro has appealed to all MLAs to render utmost support while taking up policies to make Public Distribution System (PDS) successful in the State.
He was speaking in the State Legislative Assembly during the discussion for demand grant of Rs.21,24,89,000 for CAF&PD today.
Later, the demand was passed by the State Assembly despite policy cut motions raised by some opposition MLAs.
Minister Okendro appreciated the MLAs for making suggestions and comments for improvement of CAF&PD in the House.
He said that the Food Security Act would be enacted soon all over the country.
The State government has taken up necessary measures to ensure the benefit to APL, BPL and AAY beneficiaries.
The government would also appoint village agents in place of the present ration agents from next month and ensure adequate availability of rice in the market, Okendro announced.
He further said that new policies have been framed to ensure availability of essential commodities even during bandhs and blockades.
Open tenders have also been done among 149 firms for the transportation of rice from outside the State, CAF&PD added.
The Minister also informed the House that the state government has been seriously discussing to tackle the problem of missing trucks loaded with PDS items by installing GPS in these trucks.
With this facility transparency in distribution of PDS items would be able to maintain in the state, the Minister hoped.
Raising policy cut motion, MLA RK Imo pointed out that there have been several issues regarding Public Distribution System in the State.
The State government should sort out bogus card holders in order to streamline the system, he noted.
MLA Bishwajit suggested that fair price agents should be made to deposit the money themselves and also the authorities concerned check the flow of PDS items to the market.
MLA Joykishan contended that education cannot be enhanced amidst hunger, and so the government should try to make rice available to common people at a reasonable price.
MLA Brojen also pointed out shortage of weight in the rice supplied by CAF&PD and urged the authorities concerned to check the weight through the Department of Weight and Measures.
Dr I Ibohalibi maintained that the CAF&PD cannot bring down the price of rice and other essential commodities if the illegal intermediary charges are not curtailed by the authorities.