SHILLONG: Denial of PDS items to the villagers in Nongmadan in East Khasi Hills has become a cause of concern coupled with lack of infrastructure facilities in the village.
The matter came to light after the CSWO President Agnes Kharshiing visited Nongmadan on June 21 after being invited by about more than 25 families, for a meeting with them to discuss mainly on the PDS that was being deprived to some of them. This village falls under the Mawphlang Block and under the Sohiong constituency of senior Cabinet Minister HDR Lyngdoh.
In a statement issued here, Kharshiing said that the organization was shocked to find out that in Nongmadan village as in the case of Pynter Village, Pynursla, also in East Khasi Hills, the diktat by the Headman of Nongmadan, Brad Nongrum and the dealer of PDS Tining Mylliem, was that the beneficiaries should take rice within 3 days failing which they would not get their quota for the month. Most of them who had no money when the PDS was distributed could not get the PDS items and later they were compelled to buy them in the market rate.
The rice that was not distributed was then sold among those who were in the same group as the dealer and the Headman. This was all decided by the Headman. This is a direct contravention of the Essential Commodities Act, and also cheating the people of the village, Kharshiing said.
When the old woman conveyed to the headman and others that they had no money the reply was that it was decided by the Vigilance Committee whereas some members of the Vigilance Committee seem to be not aware of this and were never called for the meetings
It was also found that as many as 17 families (having about 39 minors) were not having the ration cards, and were getting only rice distributed seldom by the dealer, at the whims and fancies of the Headman. It was also brought to the notice of the CSWO that around 12 aged persons, above the age of 60 were not getting any benefits of the old age pension scheme, though their photographs had been taken years back. Jwoam Kharbuki who is more than 65 years old said he gave up when he did not get the old age scheme though long time back his photo was taken. Most of these people had to just keep quiet, according to Kharshiing.
They also mentioned that whenever they ask the Inspectors concerned to help them, they were told that they were instructed from the higher level, and cannot do much.
Tax on Agri products
The CSWO said it has also known that the agricultural produce of the farmers in the village was highly taxed in the markets at Iew Duh, and also at Nongpoh by the traders who take away 1 kg for every 10 kg that they bring to sell. This according to the CSWO is daylight extortion, and the markets should be regularized by the Syiem, so that no trader can deprive the benefits of farmers and suppress them. “If they carry 100 kg of ginger they are not paid for 10 kg of ginger. This ‘taxing’ is also becoming one of the reasons for increase in prices of essential commodities and affects every common man”, Kharshiing pointed out.
Roads in bad shape
The road to the village was also in a very bad condition, and there was no black topping, though the local MLA had promised this during the election’, Kharshiing said.
But some villagers remember that muster rolls were appointed yet the road was still the same. They face tremendous hardships especially when people get sick. The stones were brought before the last election in 2013, and they still remain there as they were, the CSWO said.
With a lot of hardships persisting, the CSWO has decided to file an FIR at Sohiong police station against the Headman and the dealer of Nongmadan, for cheating the people and siphoning off the PDS. The CWSO will also seek information on the status of the road to Nongmadan from the Office of the Chief Engineer Roads.
The organization further urged people from various villages who do not have ration cards to get the names and submit to the CSWO, so that the Central Government will know how the people in the villages are being ignored and treated.