Kshetrigao demands release of pending PDS rice
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 02 2024:
As the CAF&PD minister had informed that the PDS rice quota for the month of September and November 2023 had been released, the said rice should be made available to the people of Kshetrigao assembly constituency, stated meira paibi activists of the constituency.
On Tuesday, a public meeting was held at Pangong Makhong, Irilbung in Imphal East, wherein meira paibi members from different wards of the constituency attended.
During the meeting, the participants discussed non-distribution of PDS rice timely to the public and the hardships faced by the people in purchasing rice at the rate of Rs 55 per kg from the market.
Speaking to reporters, Kongba Nongthombam Leikai Women's Association secretary Thiyam Surjabala recounted that during a meeting with the chief minister on November 21 last, women folks of Kshetrigao assembly constituency raised the PDS rice issue to which CAF&PD minister L Susindro present at the meeting, declared that PDS rice quotas for September and October in respect of Kshetrigao AC had already been lifted.
The minister also informed that until the PDS rice for the said months have been distributed to the public, the quota for the month of November will be put on hold, Surjabala said and added that, the PDS rice should therefore be distributed to the public at the earliest.
She further stated that the NFSA cards of the people of Kshetrigao AC have been collected from the card holders since Sheikh Noorul Hassan was elected as the MLA of Kshetrigao AC.
As such, the people are not aware for which months PDS rice quota had been distributed so far.
Moreover, since the people are not in possession of the NFSA cards, they are facing problems in availing benefits of various other schemes.
Earlier MLA Sheikh Noorul Hassan provided 5 kg of PDS rice each under NFSA but later reduced to 4 kg each.
However, soon after the humanitarian crisis broke out on May 3 last year, there has been difference in the quantity of rice distributed to the people with some receiving 3 kg, and others getting 2 to 2.5 kg.
On being enquired, it was informed that the rice deducted by the PDS agents were distributed to the people staying in relief camps at Akampat, the authenticity of which is not confirmed.