Forum flays bid to siphon PDS rice
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 23 2023: All Manipur Tribals Development Grievances Forum (AMTDGF) has strongly condemned the incident in Churachandpur district where an attempt was made to siphon food grains/rice-under PDS meant for the downtrodden citizens.

In a release, AMTDGF general secretary Gangonglung Khumba expressed serious resentment that attempt was made to steal food grains under PDS by some goons in nexus with politicians of the hill districts of Manipur.

Alleging that in the hill districts distribution of food grains under NFSA is irregular as these thieves are selling away PDS rice meant for the people living below poverty line, the Forum stressed that state government should ensure that fair price shop agents, PDS staff and politicians concerned are held responsible for it.

There are complaints that food grains under NFSA are abundantly available in the open market in hill districts.

There are also reports that rice under NFSA in hill districts are sold at the rate of Rs 5, Rs 10 and Rs 15 and complaints lodged in this regard to the deputy commissioners concerned of hill districts but without any action initiated, it pointed out.

Maintaining that fair price agents are appointed by the DC at the diktat of the MLA concerned, AMTDGF sought explanation on lapses in distribution of the food grains under NFSA.

The Forum also appealed to the government to initiate necessary action against those involved including politicians, staff and whosoever and establish a proper mechanism to deal with all these lapses in distribution of PDS food grains.

It further appealed to all concerned to ensure that welfare projects and materials allotted for the downtrodden citizens should be fairly distributed.

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