IMPHAL, Feb 25: Alleging irregularities in Public Distribution system various civil bodies of Nungba sub-division today organized a mass public rally at the sub-division demanding rectification and actions against the defaulters to ensure food security in the sub-division.
Drawing the attention of the concerned authority to intervene into the matter to address the prolonged grievances due to the alleged irregularities that had deprived the Rights of the general population, a memorandum was also submitted to the Nungba SDO.
The rally was organized jointly by Nungba area PDS forum, Zeliangrong Students`™ Union Nungba, Nungba Women Society, Nungba area Village Authority Association, Nungba area Women Welfare Organisation and Indo-Global Social Service Society PEARL project, PESCH.
Over five hundred people including students of the area took part in the rally. The rally started from Nungba Public Ground at around 11 am.
A public meeting was also held at the public ground and unanimously adopted many charters of demand which later was submitted as memorandum to the SDO.
During the entire period of rally and meeting the whole Nungba area had a total shutdown with shops remaining closes.
All business establishments, schools institution remain closed and all transportation stayed off the road.
A briefing in connection with the charters of demands was held which was attended by K. Stephen, secretary Nungba Area Village Authority Association, Khonjeng Kamei, VC ZSU Nungba, Dimthaorei Gangmei, secretary Nungba area PDS Forum, Lunsina Malangmei, secretary Nungba Women Society, Ashin Kamei, Secretary Nungba Area Women Welfare Organsation, Khengna, ICDS workers etc. among others.
The main highlight of the memorandum was the demand for Targeted Public Distribution System (TDPS) and Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) items and to initiate concrete steps to ensure food security.
It said that TDPS which is one of the most relevant schemes for poor people like the public of Nungba has been deprived from the public. The people hardly receive it twice or once in a year adding even in such a case rationing agents sold the items at an exorbitant rate almost as par with open market price.
Besides, they sold away the PDS items at their own disposal ignoring the cardholders. While expressing discontent, it further urged the concerned authority to avail PDS items regularly and to further punish those defaulters and book them according to Essential Commodity Act 1955.
It has further demanded setting up of `Fair price shop` of SK Oil for easy access to PDS items to the beneficiaries. And give the agents strong instruction to abide by the rules laid down by the concern department from time to time.
While noting that the people are facing untold miseries and hardship during rainy season for the last many years for want of essential commodities it urged the S.D.O Nungba to accumulate essential commodities (PDS, ICDS) in all the godown within the Nungba sub-division which could last for lean season before the onset of rainy season.
It claimed that the ICDS-Anganwadi workers and helpers suffered inconveniences while collecting food items (supplementary nutrition) from Imphal. Their expenditures are higher than the value of the items they collected and involved unnecessary expenditure. Therefore, the CDPO should take responsible to reach the ICDS items like supplementary nutrition, cooking materials required for smooth functioning of ICDS center at Nungba Headquarter.
It stated that SK-Oil is another commodity of PDS which is the dearth need of every household as the people encounter irregularities of power supply by one reason or other. Besides, some villages still don`™t have electric connectivity till date.
We urge the concern officials to look into the unscrupulous practice prevailing at Rengpang and Nungba circle and give stringent instruction to the Dealer or Sub-dealers to lift the allotted quantities on regular basis and fulfill the need of the public.
It draws to authority to take serious concern and take necessary action to rectify the rampant corruption. Failure to deliver the rightful demand the joint body informed that they would be compelled to various.
