Failure of supply dept adds to woes of PDS beneficiaries

Mawkyrwat: The Khasi Student’s Union (KSU) South West Khasi Hills district has written a complaint to Deputy Commissioner, Isawanda Laloo against the failure of the supply department, Mawkyrwat to ensure smooth distribution of PMGKAY scheme and other commodities through PDS on Thursday.
President of KSU South West Khasi Hills district, Forwardman Nongrem said that the union found out that the distribution of PMGKAY to both AAY and PHH beneficiaries is not free of cost as provided by the government.
‘In some areas the beneficiaries receive rice in full amount, but some of them were charging Rs 1 or Rs 2 per kilogram while others charge Rs 10 to Rs 50 per ration card holder,’ he said.
Nongrem added that on enquiry about the issue from some dealers, they said that money is charged because the wholesalers are charging labour cost for transportation whereas the government has already paid for it.
The KSU leader said that the supply department should ensure that all beneficiaries should get their money back as promised by the DC. “The union through different units also found out that in some areas the amount of rice did not reach in full to the dealers because some of the wholesalers have deducted it. Some claimed that the wholesalers also did not get the full amount of rice from FCI which resulted in dealers not getting the full amount,” Nongrem stated.
He added that at the end of the day the poor have to suffer due to the failure of the supply department.
The union demanded from the district administration and the supply department to set up an inquiry so that there will be no deduction of rice right from the FCI godown, wholesalers and dealers.