TURA: In the light of large scale irregularities alleged in the distribution of PDS goods, particularly rice and sugar, in the plains belt region of West Garo Hills the Sub-Divisional officer (Civil) of Dadenggre civil sub-division has directed for the holding of a public meeting at New Bhaitbari on November 6th to heart complaints from members of the public.
The decision to hold the public meeting was taken after members of the All Meghalaya Minorities Students Union met the SDO (Civil) at Dadenggre on Thursday and submitted a petition highlighting alleged malpractices in the PDS distribution by dealers in Shidakandi, Boabari, Kandergaon, Morasuti, Phersakhandi, New Bhaitbari and Garodubi.
While allegations have been levelled against the dealers, the later has also denied the same.
Fair price shop dealers from West Garo Hills who were earlier accused of corruption and irregularity in the distribution of PDS goods to beneficiaries by the All Meghalaya Minority Students’ Union (AMMSU) have refuted the claims of the union terming it as fabricated and concocted and claimed that the move was an act of revenge against them as the self proclaimed leaders were in the running for appointment as dealers but failed due to lack of public support or other reasons.
“The allegation made against us is merely an act of revenge by these self proclaimed leaders of AMMSU as they had also applied for appointment as FPS dealers which was not granted. Now there is no alternative for them but to make false allegations against us and to bring it to the notice of the licensing authority to get our licenses cancelled so that they can be appointed instead,” the statement of clarification issued jointly by dealers from Shidakandi, Boabari, Kandargaon, Morasuti, Phersakandi, New Bhaitbari and Garodubi said.
According to the FPS dealers, small public gatherings were used by the AMMSU to defame them and no such public gathering on the issue as claimed by the union had ever taken place. The dealers also claimed that the picture of a large gathering given by the AMMSU to the media as proof of a meeting on the issue was also fake and taken from another gathering.
On the need to constitute Price Vigilance Committees (PVC) as raised by AMMSU, the dealers said that each and every fair price shop has its PVC supervised by the Nokma/Gaonbura and Village Vigilance Committee/VEC Secretary and that no FPS dealer has the liberty to act arbitrarily on his own.
“There is also a toll free number- 1967 which can be reached by all beneficiaries if they have any doubts. Everyone has the right to lodge a complaint if any misappropriation is suspected. However, if none from among the beneficiaries, PVC, Nokma/Gaonbura or village vigilance committee has ever made any complaints, then who is AMMSU to question our functioning,” the dealers questioned.
The dealers admitted that due to delayed supply of commodities by wholesalers concerned, they are sometimes forced to delay the lifting of commodities as well as distribution, but maintained that the monthly allotment is distributed to the beneficiaries each month without fail.
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