CAF&PD accused of politicising rice provision
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 02 2024: While appealing to officials of CAF&PD not to politicise distribution of PDS rice, Kshetrigao MLA Sheikh Noorul Hassan has urged officials concerned to declare at the earliest when PDS rice for Kshetrigao assembly constituency, withheld since November last year, will be distributed.

Addressing media persons at his Kshetrigao residence, on Tuesday, MLA Noorul Hassan expressed delight that he as the people's representative ensured provision of rice entitled under Public Distribution System (PDS) as mandated by the National Food Security Act (NFSA) for November 2023 to February 2024.Advising the CAF&PD officials to initiate effective measures to ensure timely distribution of rice instead of making irrational comments through the media, the MLA also clarified regarding allegations levelled against him by the CAF&PD director about lifting of PDS rice quota for March month without authorisation.

While revealing that the said rice consignment has already been distributed to beneficiaries of Kshetrigao AC, he also dared the department officials to recover the same from the beneficiaries.

The MLA also insisted that a truckload of PDS rice meant for March lifted from Sawombung FCI warehouse and deposited at the Sangaiprou FCI warehouse be handed over to the people of Kshetrigao AC at the earliest along with stating that the department clarify over non-payment of two years' incentive to fair price shop (FPS) agents.

While also demanding clarification on field verification reportedly conducted by the department over non-distribution of PDS rice for September and October last year as claimed by the CAF&PD director, he sought explanation as to why the department officials overlooked the necessity to meet or consult with the FPS agents during the field verification, if at all conducted.

MLA Noorul also dismissed as baseless complaint by some people that they have not received the PDS rice distributed.

Advising the director and the DSO to discharge their duties in fair and transparent manner, and refrain from making politically motivated comments and allegations, he stressed that the officials need no reminding that the PDS rice should be distributed to the deserving people and not stocked in the warehouse.

He also threatened to initiate legal actions against all officials found involved in siphoning off rice quota of the people and instructed officials concerned to ensure distribution of rice through the FPS agents rather than heeding to the demand to entrust the task of distribution to staff members of the department.

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