IMPHAL, June 16 (NNN): Militant organization Kangleipak Communist Party-Poirei Meitei (KCP-Poirei) today accused Manipur government officials and FCS authorities of making personal money from food grains meant for National Food Security Act.
Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh recently announced launching of the Act in the state from April 2016. Most parts of the state are yet to be covered by the Act till date, according to media reports here.
Besides, the concerned department has not been able to complete distribution of ration cards to beneficiaries though most infrastructures are already in place. The alleged anomalies in implementation of the Act have made the public more worried.
Under the Act, which came into force on July 5, 2013, each eligible person will get 5 kg of food grain a month—rice at Rs 3 per kg. The Act would lay stress upon those beneficiaries holding Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) cards.
Recently, beneficiaries of the Act refused to lift distributed rice complaining that the agents did not provide them the actual quantity in different parts of the state. For Manipur which lives solely on rice, the state government does not take wheat quota and hence it gets more rice provided under the Act.
State Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Minister Ksh Biren Singh had recently threatened to take action against those who failed to give full quota rice to the beneficiaries under the Act. The minister’s warning came in the wake of media reports alleging abuse of NFSA rice quota.
“The state government in collusion with FCS authorities is selling the quota rice in the market to earn extra pocket money for themselves. FCS authorities should clarify the matter and issue ration cards only to the beneficiaries,” Poirei group KCP demanded in a statement on Thursday.
The outfit demanded the government that failure on the part of the concerned authorities to distribute ration cards to all beneficiaries should be investigated by constituting an inquiry committee at the earliest, saying misuse of allocated rice quota under the Act “will be dealt with firmly without giving any warning.”
