IMPHAL, Sept 27 : The public hearing conducted by a Central Vigilance Commitee team on PDS participated by consumers card holders representatives of FPS dealers association, NGOs (women self help group), transporters, etc which was rescheduled today was concluded this afternoon at Hotel Imphal.
It may be mention that the public hearing was scheduled for yesterday at Manipur State Guest House in the evening but due public protests alleging that the committee deliberately held the hearing in the evening in order to conclude the hearing without any substantive issues regarding the Public Distribution System (PDS) raised, it had to be rescheduled for today.
However, despite the acrimony yesterday the attendance today was aparse with only some people from Churachanpur, Bishnupur, and Imphal East and West districts attending.
Briefing media the Chairman of Central Vigilance Committee D.P. Wadhwa said that the committee has been examining all the reports which were submitted to the committee.
He said a lot of people said that there is always shortage in PDS products reaching the people.
He said in order to ensure performance the committee is going to take all the reports and submit it to the Central government. Those found derelicting thier responsibilities would be awarded punishment as per the directive of the Supreme Court.
The Zomi Economic Planning and Development Agency (ZEPADA) of churanchanpur mentioned that since 2006, the ZEPADA and other Churachandpur-civil societies have been relentlessly trying to improve PDS and in this connection, different forms of protest were held including a "mass empty-Pot rally against malfunctioning of PDS in Churachandpur".
Numerous representation have been made to appropriate authorities and because of its campaign the PDS has improved to some extent but the satisfactory performance is a distant dream still, they said.
Development agencies however maintained that allocation for Churachandpur district is only 5430.30 quintals of food grain, 182 KL of kerosene and 957 quintals of sugar and as per record available with the district FCS department, 9678 BPL families and 5836 AAY card holders are enlisted as PDS beneficiaries which are only 22.75 percent abd 13.71 percent respectively of 42538 households in the district and the district monthly allocation of sugar is only 2 kgs per family.
The agency also suggested the committee that additional allocation of food grain needs to be made for Churachanpur District and to fresh BPL census need to be conducted immediately in order to include all deserving landless tribals residing in the hilly terrain under BPL category which will ensure food security.
Later, the Chairman of the committee gave assurance to the development agency to inquire about the issue by submitting the report to the central government and take necessary action against the agencies and other concern authorities.
The Central Vigilance Committee on Public Distribution System members head by Justice D.P. Wadhwa arrived Imphal yesterday in order to study targeted PDS in Manipur.
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