By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Civil Society Women’s Organization (CSWO) on Wednesday punched holes in the statement of Food and Civil Supplies Minister Prof RC Laloo that the supply of essential commodities was good in Meghalaya.
Laloo made this claim during the conference of State Food Ministers in Delhi on Tuesday.
In a statement issued here on Wednesday, CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said that there are many cases filed against the dealers who have deprived the people of their quota of PDS items and action has not been taken yet in most cases by the administration.
“So the minister’s statement in New Delhi that all the beneficiaries are receiving PDS is false and there is a rise in such violations of the Supreme Court order. The PDS items are lifted but they are diverted to the pockets of the few in power,” Kharshiing said.
Providing a list of anomalies in PDS distribution, the CSWO said that in Wahlakhiat in Mawkynriew a dealer who had siphoned off 2 months quota of rice was still given permission to be the dealer which is against the Essential Commodities Act.
In Klew village in Ri-Bhoi district, the headman had deprived the villagers of Upper Klew of their quota and even names of the dead had been reflected in the BPL list, yet no action was taken against the person in spite of the submission of the report to the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Ri-Bhoi district, Kharshiing said.
In Mynsain in Ri-Bhoi district villagers were deprived of their quota of rice for 10 years.
In Thieddieng village, falling under the Mawsynram Block, the people were deprived of the PDS supplies and an FIR was subsequently filed. This led to the filing of charge sheet by the Police but the file is lying somewhere in the courts, Kharshiing alleged.
In Nongkwai, falling under Pynursla Block, about 70 families were deprived of their right to food.
The CSWO alleged that the office of the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills district, has appointed an unknown dealer who is a politically linked man, and the people’s choice was ignored. The people wrote to the DC but he never responded. They have not got their quota for almost two years, Kharshiing alleged.
According to Kharshiing, in Madanryting (Mylliem Block) most of the names of the BPL card holders are people owning big houses, while the poor do not get ration at all.
“The Gram Sevaks and inspectors are drawing their pay but not checking the loop holes and no action was taken against them,” Kharshiing said.
Many beneficiaries in West Khasi Hills and other parts of the State are also suffering as they are compelled to take 2 kg of poor quality rice mixed with good rice at times.
In Ri-Bhoi district most APL card holders are getting only 10 kg per family while the quota should be 35 kg per family, she said.
Many dealers distribute the PDS within two or three days or maximum within a week and the poor families who cannot lift the PDS within that time lose out on their quota, and this is in violation of the Supreme Court Order, she alleged.
“The CSWO will take up all these issues with the Chief Secretary and if there is no response, the organization will take up the matter with the Centre for proper implementation of PDS,” Kharshiing added.