Northeast

Police foil press conference against non-distribution of rice under NFSA, PMGKAY at Tokpaching

The police team led by OC Th Damu dispersed the people attending the press on the pretext of not maintaining proper COVID-19 protocol.

ByIFP Bureau

Updated 22 Oct 2021, 7:33 pm

(PHOTO: IFP)
(PHOTO: IFP)

 

A press conference held against non-distribution of rice since April 2021 under National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 and Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) was foiled by Arong Nongmaikhong police on Friday.

The police team led by OC Th Damu dispersed the people attending the press meet which was held at the residence of former up-pradhan Salam Ibobi located at Tokpaching, Laimang Chandonpokpi Leikai, on the pretext of not maintaining proper COVID-19 protocol.

Villagers of Tokpaching, Laimang Chandonpokpi Leikai (ward no 9/1) and Heidroipokpi Leikai of Arong Nongmaikhong Gram Panchayat (ward no 9/2) of Kakching district were interacting with a team of media on the issue of not giving PDS rice under PMGKAY and NFSA since April 2021. The villagers put their demand for a full amount of 5kg of rice per person per month. However, during the press conference, the police team rushed to the spot and halted the press conference which resulted in scuffle between the villagers and the police team.

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OC Th Damu told the media persons that gathering is not allowed due to COVID-19 pandemic and the villagers have not taken permission from the concerned DC.

On the other hand, the villagers expressed their discontentment saying that people’s rights are violated most of the time by the authorities concerned, either by police or other means of force.

One Ningthoujam Ongbi Patisore of Tokpaching village said that since April of this year, the PDS rice has not been given to the villagers of Tokpaching and Heidroipokpi. Due to COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, the villagers were unable to approach any concerned authority to complain on the irregularities of rice distribution. But on July 5, 2021, they filed a complaint to Kakching DC, and further went to the Manipur Human Rights Commission on July 8, 2021 as the DC had not responded to the complaint.

The MHRC has directed the Kakching DC to submit a report on the complaint. On July 30, the Kakching DC submitted an illegible and fabricated enquiry report full of errors to the MHRC, listing 110 beneficiaries, signed by Quality inspector, Akbar Khan and Civil Supply inspector, Lalhriatrenga, she added.

Patisore further said that on August 11, the complainant to the MHRC filed a written objection listing the correct number of beneficiaries identifying the errors in the official report. Further, on September 13, MHRC made a field enquiry and visited the Kakching DC where the officials claimed that the irregularities are due to non-linking of Aadhaar card and priority household card holders.  Later, the beneficiaries submitted a list of Aadhaar card numbers, which were linked with the beneficiary-names but have not received the PDS items since April, to the MHRC on September 16.

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MHRC passed an order directing the DC and district supply officer (DSO) of Kakching to ensure that their required rice is distributed to the illegible beneficiaries as per the requirement of NFSA and PMGKAY and to submit the compliance report to the MHRC on October 7 without fail, she added.

On October 7, neither the rice was distributed to the beneficiaries nor was the compliance report submitted to MHRC by the DC and DSO. Later, an application was submitted to MHRC on October 11 to initiate legal proceedings against the wilful disobedience of MHRC’s order or recommendation. However, MHRC instead of taking action, caved into the pressure of one DSO, Y Tomba of CAF and PD, Kakching district, said Patisore.

“I even called the number given in ‘CM Da Haisi’ on October 20 to put forward the villagers’ grievances directly to the chief minister but it was of no help,” said Patisore.

Another woman of the village, Salam Sanahanbi said that till today, no one from local MLA side or any authorities have come to enquire on the issues faced by the villagers. Apart from the issue of PDS items, there are many issues in these villages. For instance, there is no drinking water facility and the villagers have to buy water from private suppliers. 

 

 

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First published:

Tags:

PMGKAYrice distributionNFSApds rice distribution

IFP Bureau

IFP Bureau

IMPHAL, Manipur

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