As the price of rice continued to shoot days after days leaving the befuddled concerned department unable to find a way to control the price rise, a faulty idea crept in. Such measures of distribution of rice at crowded areas should have been taken when all systems have collapsed. The manner with rice is sold at crowded areas reflects complete absence of mechanism to reach out to the masses. Spiralling price hike can be checked when the supply chain is strengthened. Earlier system of selling Government controlled rice through rationing agents does better job. Where had gone our elected representatives? They have a role to play to improve the supply chain. The long queue that forms wherever rice is sold makes it appear as if Manipur has been ravaged either by war or natural calamities. As if starvation had engulfed the entire masses men and women with torn plastic bags stand for collection of rice. One hates to see such scene. What we do not try to remember is that there are thousands and thousands of people, who need rice yet they cannot stand in such beeline queue for one reason or the other. Under the scorched heat without any shade men and women form the long queue to get 10 kgs of rice. Children below 15 years of age are barred from standing in the queue, which needs to be clarified. Do not children eat rice? It is time Government make serious attempt to revive public distribution system. Where lies the necessity for all these road shows when the same task can be done by approved rationing agents. Frankly speaking such show blackens the face of the Government. The public memory is still fresh. The scene of thousands standing in queue for collection of petrol or diesel from oil depots haunts us which is yet fade out. Distribution of rice in the manner as is being done now will not solve rice scarcity in bazaar areas. Now rice is sold at bazaar areas at Rs 1200 per 50 kgs. During the corresponding period last year rice was sold as cheap as Rs 700 per the same weight. What made things to come to this stage. It says something has gone wrong somewhere. The attention of the highest authority is invited to look into the matter.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/price-rise-of-rice-and-faulty-measures/
