Imphal, July 10 2009: Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister, Y Erabot, today informed the Assembly during question hour that there have been cases, wherein rice quota allocated to the Districts and Assembly Constituencies, were intercepted while being siphoned off or while selling off the rice quota on the sly.

Responding to a question raised by MLA Kh Ratankumar, the Minister said that rice quota for Mayang Imphal A/C, under APL scheme, is being distributed through the retail outlet shops.

However, cases of rice quota allotted to the districts or the A/Cs being kept or sold off before reaching the distribution centres have been detected, added Erabot.

Prior permission of the Department is required if the rice quota is to be kept in some godowns before being transported to the distribution centres, the Minister said.

To another question raised by MLA Radhabinod Koijam, Erabot informed the House that 2559.66 quintal of APL rice had been provided to Thangmeiband A/C in April last year and another 195.11 quintal in April this year.

These rice quotas have been distributed through two rationing agents identified as Th Ibomcha and A Gandhi, Erabot said.

Radhabinod, however, interjected that the two rationing agents named by the Minister have denied accepting the said rice quotas when they were called up.

Questioning how the agents are being selected, he also demanded the Minister to table the relevant documents so as to find out who have signed the receipt at the time of taking the rice quota to which the Minister gave his assurance.

Pension for Handicapped: In response to a question raised by MLA Th Nandakishore, Social Welfare Minister Loken said steps are being taken up for extending pension benefit to handicapped persons in same way as the extension of Old Age Pension to aged persons.

Kamjong-Kangpat Khullen road : Works Minister K Ranjit informed the House that construction work along the 35-km long Kamjong-Kangpat Khullen road began under the funding of SPA 2008-09 with AS Chingnaongai as special contractor and so far Rs 135.50 lakh have been sanctioned as second running bill.

The Minister was replying to a question raised by MLA Wungnaoshang Keishing.

Vacant post of primary teachers: Tribal Development DD Thaisii said there are in all, 1729 vacant post of primary school teachers, under the Autonomous District Council.

Out of these vacant posts, only 66 applicants have applied for appointment under die-in-harness scheme, though the total number of posts reserved for die-in-harness cases is 86 .

The Minister was replying to a question from MLA Morung Makunga.

NREGS in Bishnupur: Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Md Allauddin Khan informed the House that for the period 2009-01, no work have been executed under NREGS, in any of the Gram Panchayats of Bishnupur District.

The Minister was responding to a query from MLA N Mangi.

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