Distribution of PDS items to women
SHILLONG: The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has taken serious note of the denial of PDS items to the family of one Ostila Nongrum by the village dorbar of Kynroh Nonglyer, Sohiong in East Khasi Hills.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister Mukul Sangma among others on Tuesday, the AHRC has urged that immediate steps be taken to ensure that Nongrum’s family gets the food items under the PDS along with arrears.
The AHRC has also sought action against the Sordar of the village Dorbar, Kwit Kyrsien and secretary Faitstar Nongtri for denying the right to food to women of the village.
The Commission has also directed to expedite the allotment of ration cards to all households especially in rural areas of the district.
Besides this, the AHRC directed the authorities to find a way, be it by legislation, to allow women to participate in Dorbar deliberations. It also suggested the need to initiate removal of anomalies and contradictions in the functioning and powers of the courts and traditional bodies in the state.
Earlier, it was reported that Ortila was denied her monthly ration when she visited a fair price shop on January 31 2014. She was told by the PDS distributor Basil Kharthangmaw, that he had received a ‘verbal dictum’ from the Sordar of the village to deny her the same.
Later, CSWO president Agnes filed an FIR on behalf of the victim on February 15, 2014 acting upon which police arrested the Sordar, the secretary of the Dorbar and the PDS distributor. The trio was later released on bail.
Following their release, the Sordar and secretary called for an urgent meeting of the Dorbar on April 10 in which a fund of Rs 20,000 was raised to meet the legal expenses of the accused.
The women of the village, meanwhile, were prohibited from attending the meeting and even chased away when they insisted on attendance.
Furthermore, the leaders of the Dorbar unilaterally decided not to disburse PDS allotments to womenfolk of the village. The Dorbar leaders apparently took such a decision in response to the criminal cases filed against them for the PDS refusal and also to teach a lesson to the women.
The women of the village on the other hand conducted their own meeting on April 14 in which the PDS distributor agreed to disburse ration to womenfolk.
