Calls for probe in all districts
Dimapur, February 11 (MExN): The ACAUT or Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation today questioned the role of Food and Civil Supplies Department on the ongoing PDS Scam in Mokokchung District.
“While the Store Keeper of F&CS department, Mokokchung, is on the run, the fact of the matter is that the department in the eye of the storm, F&CS, is conspicuous by its silence,” stated a press note from Media Cell, ACAUT Nagaland.
The Mokokchung Police and District Administration had raided some establishments on January 31 where suspected pilfered rice was found is huge quantity leading to sealing of their premises.
Alleging that the F&CS department, without doubt, is one of the most “unaccounted for department and the least transparent in the State” it maintained it is not surprising that the Store Keeper is still evading arrest even when the unearthing of the scam happened “ages ago” on January 31.
“This is the ‘bread and butter’ department for the political class” it noted.
In this connection, ACAUT said it was imperative that the Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung treat the issue “most seriously” and thoroughly probe the matter in a free and impartial manner.
ACAUT further called for setting up an Inquiry Committee by the DC which would include 2 members from Mokokchung civil society as demanded, so as free itself from questionable influences
“Unless this demand is fulfilled, the DC will not be able to escape allegations that he himself has vested interest or is acting at the behest of his political and administrative bosses or even the undergrounds in order to sweep the issue under the carpet,” it maintained.
While the scam is being probed, ACUAT also requested the DC of Mokokchung to ascertain whether other items under Public distribution system (PDS) such as kerosene, wheat and other essential commodities reaches the beneficiaries in Mokokchung district.
“In fact, the DCs of all the districts are requested to probe whether PDS items such as rice, kerosene, wheat, etc., reaches the beneficiaries at all” ACAUT further pointed out.
Besides, it also noted there is allegation in certain quarters that F&CS department cannot undertake this “massive siphoning” exercise without the “help and aid” of the district administration.
“It is up to the DCs of the districts to prove otherwise,” ACAUT taunted.
ACAUT also appealed to all the tribal youth organisations in all the districts to declare an all-out ‘War Against Corruption’ and asked them to check whether welfare departments such as Rural department, Social welfare department, Relief and Rehabilitation department, etc., have been acting in the interest of the rural people.
“ The war against rampant corruption in Nagaland has so much in the interest of our well-being, as to be bogged down by narrow variables such clanism, villageism, rangeism, and tribalism,” it further opined.
