4 months rice not distributed in Yaiskul AC

MLA blames former government

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 22

Charges have cropped up from a former councillor of Yaiskul Assembly constituency regarding pilferage of National Food Security Act rice. Allegation is that gross nepotism and manipulation have been conducted in the rice distribution.

Addressing a press conference at Manipur Press Club today, Y. Ratikanta, former councillor of ward number 19 of Yaiskul constituency stated that he sought information regarding the rice distribution through the RTI Act recently.

The reply he received from the consumer affairs, food and pubic distribution department mentioned that rice had been allocated for the constituency till April 2017. But, the signatures of distribution made in the beneficiaries ration books states that rice had been distributed for May, June and July of this year.

The month of January, February, March and April is blank in all the ration books. For evidence, he showed several cards which supported his statement.

He questioned the motive of distributing rice quota sanctioned for the earlier four months as rice quota for the latter three months. “What will happen to the rice of the last four months?” he charged.

Moreover, he alleged that the fair price shops and agents have been neglected as the distribution is done by a committee called Development Welfare Committee through its secretary namely A Joychandra.

Hinting political favouritism, he said that the CAF and PD department has turned a blind eye and the SDO concerned signs the utilisation certificate authorising the committee secretary Joychandra to receive the monthly quota. Joychandra is not a registered rice agent, he added.

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Further, he distributes the rice through his committee deriding the authority of the registered local distribution agents, said Ratikanta.

It was alleged that the ward members are also empowered to sign the rice quota utilisation certificate where only councillors concerned are authorised to do so. He mentioned that ward member of 19, Yaiskul a/c , namely T Gobind also signed for Ward number 18 among other discrepancies. Ratikanta stated that the rice quota for November and December were not distributed too.

In the regard, Imphal Free Press called up the concerned MLA Th Satyabrata. He clarified that he became an MLA in March 2017 and anomalies in rice distribution before his tenure is not within his ambit.

“I have started distributing rice from April onwards and there have been no lapses and there will not be any in future also” he added saying that if complaint arises regarding concerned rice agents, then it can be handed over to a welfare organisation in the interest of the public.

Imphal East district supply officer also commented that an agent can be removed if found indulging in any pilferage and another agent or a body can be deputed as an interim arrangement.