NUCO, an apex organisation of Khonghampat to Kangpokpi and Youth for Change of Kshetrigao warn of legal actions for discrepancy in distribution rice under national food security act
TFM Desk
As the second wave of Covid-19 battered many families financially without any source of income due to curfew imposed by the state government to curb the spread, every grain of rice is precious for many households. Cutting rice quota earmarked for a person under National food security act (NFSA) on flimsy ground during this crisis situation has raised many eyebrows.
The Northern United Clubs’ Organisation (NUCO), an apex organisation of Khonghampat to Kangpokpi, warned to take the help of law against those involved in not providing the fixed amount of rice to NFSA card holders under the PMGKY scheme in Lamsang AC.
In a release on Sunday, NUCO said that NFSA card holders in Lamsang AC are receiving only 3 kg of rice instead of 5 kg set by the Manipur government. Whoever is responsible, be it the agent, the super-agent or the nominee should clarify to the public why they are distributing only 3 kg of rice.
In the past, the MLA of Lamsang AC had also stated that 5 kg of rice were distributed. So the minister should take action against those responsible for distributing only 3 kg rice, NUCO demanded.
NUCO also urged the concerned to distribute the remaining rice within 48 hours. The organisation also promised to make public those responsible with the help of AMUCO.
On the other hand, NUCO also asserted that the public was not responsible for linking the Aadhaar card to NFSA card as the details had already been collected. How many years will the process of linking take, it asked and demanded that the agent, retailer and nominee should make public those who had not been linked, along with the documents, within two days.
Meanwhile, Youth for Change, Kshetrigao alleged that many people under Kshetrigao AC have been left out of the beneficiary lists under NFSA and PMGKY. It also warned of legal action against the concerned officials.
Speaking to media persons on Sunday at Kshetrigao Awang Leikai, Youth for Change convenor Md Mujibur Rahman alleged that many NFSA beneficiaries under the ambit of Fair Price Shop No. 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, and 80 of Kshetrigao AC have been removed. Due to this, only the NFSA card holders have been given their rice leaving out their family members.
Mujibur urged the concerned officials, including the agents to look into the matter, failing which legal actions will be taken.
He further alleged that the agents had already taken Rs 50 to 100 along with the required documents to link Aadhaar card to the NFSA card. But to deny the beneficiaries their rice amidst the pandemic on the pretext that their cards have not been linked is unfortunate. The process of linking the Aadhaar card should be sped up so that they may get the benefits, he demanded.
On the other hand, Mujibur also alleged that many under Kshetrigao AC are getting less than 5 Kg rice. The concerned should clarify where the remaining rice is and should make sure that the beneficiaries get 5 Kg of rice, he added.
Maintaining that not just Kshetrigao AC but other people from other ACs are also complaining of not getting 5 Kg rice, Mujibur also questioned why the state government is being silent on the issue.