TURA: In light of large scale irregularities alleged in the distribution of PDS goods, particularly rice and sugar in the plains of West Garo Hills, the Sub-Divisional officer (Civil) of Dadenggre civil sub-division will convene a meeting at New Bhaitbari on November 6 to rectify the complaints made by the public.
The decision to hold the meeting was reached after members of the All Meghalaya Minorities Students Union (AMMSU) met the SDO (Civil) at Dadenggre on Thursday and submitted a petition highlighting the 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 dealers have denied the accusations.
Fair price shop dealers from West Garo Hills who were earlier accused of corruption and irregularities in the distribution of PDS goods to beneficiaries by the 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 fair price dealers but failed due to lack of public support.
“The allegations made against us are merely acts 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,” informed a statement issued jointly by dealers from Shidakandi, Boabari, Kandargaon, Morasuti, Phersakandi, New Bhaitbari and Garodubi.
According to the dealers, small public gatherings were used by the AMMSU to defame them and that no such public gatherings 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 fake.
On the need to constitute Price Vigilance Committees (PVC) as raised by the AMMSU, the dealers said that each and every fair price shop has its PVC supervised by the Nokma or Gaonbura and Village Vigilance Committee or VEC Secretary and that no FPS dealer has the liberty to act independently.
“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.
However, the dealers also admitted that due to delayed supply of commodities by wholesalers, 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.
