CSWO alleges anomalies in NFSA

SHILLONG, JULY 9: The Civil Society Women’s Organization (CSWO) has expressed concern over the alleged anomalies where deserving beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act are being charged beyond the specified price fixed by the government.

“The actual price for the PHH (priority House Hold) (earlier called the BPL) category rice is Rs 3 per kg while the beneficiaries are being charged between 5 to Rs 10,” CSWO chief Agnes Kharshiing said in a statement issued here.

She said the incident took place at a Mawsiangnei village under Shella Bholaganj Block in which villagers, who fall under the PHH category of the NFSA, are compelled to pay Rs 10 per kg.

According to her, this is decided by the village Dorbar and agreed to even by the Vigilance Committee who are all male members.

Kharshiing said one of the complainants from the village, Dran Khongphai, who was also aggrieved at having to pay Rs 10 for a kg of Rice under the said scheme, met the CSWO and has narrated the way the PDS is being provided.

Out of the 30 kg that she is allotted for 6 in the household, (@5 kg per head) a kg is also deducted from each head and only 24 kg is distributed to her and her family, and this is reflected in her Ration card, she said.

According to the NFSA, every person belonging to priority households, shall be entitled to receive 5 kg of food-grains per person per month at subsidized prices from the ration shops not exceeding Rupees 3 per kg of rice, Rupees 2 per kg of wheat, but inspite of repeated orders those who are complaining are being reprimanded instead.

On being inquired by the Sub Inspector Supply Sohra, Z Kharkongor, with regards to the ‘Redressal of the online State Public Grievance’, Dran informed that she was instead reprimanded, by this official, who told her that if she refuses to sign a peace bond, then they will lose out on the scheme.

Dran refused to sign as there was no mention of the reduction of the Rs 10 per kg of rice.

According to her, there was no discussion on the price reduction but only on the allotment which the sub inspector told the dealer to give 5 kg per head.

Dran even mentioned that only 3 kg of the sugar was distributed while the entry in the card mentions 3 ½ kg. The Sub Inspector even went to the extent of telling the beneficiary, who complained, to be the dealer instead.

Terming the statement of the official as sarcastic, the CSWO president warned that such government servants will be pulled up by the law.

“We will take them to the court of law through a PIL if they are indifferent to the common man, as this is Right to food of the poor and the public cannot be ridiculed by those sitting in the realm of power,” she said

“These are threat tactics and will not be tolerated at all,” she said adding the Ration card in this case itself is proof of anomalies and instead of taking action against the dealer the sub inspector is asking the beneficiary to sign a peace bond instead.

On inquiring, if the distribution is done for the whole month, the CSWO was informed that the PDS is distributed only for one day in this village and those who fail to collect the PDS within the specified date given by the dealer they are denied their entitlements.

“This is also the practice by many corrupt agents in some villagers too. This causes great injustice and inconvenience to poor daily wage earners to contractual employees under the security service providers as their salary is not at all regular,” Kharshiing said.

Stating that this is the situation prevalent in many villages, she said that the CSWO is getting complaints that the NFSA is not at all being complied with by many dealers, in connivance with some village heads of Dorbars along with some government servants.

“The CSWO warns the Government servants who have been entrusted with their duties, to see that the poor are not deprived of their entitlements and that dealers adhere to their roles as agents of the State and that also the Government should not at all delay the transport subsidy entitled to the dealers as this affects the beneficiaries who are asked to pay extra,” she said.

On going through the Ration card of this beneficiary, there was double entry of her name in the card and also of her family members, which is a wonder even to her; though she said she receives only for six members, she said.

According to her, this printing was done by the office for reasons best known to them and just goes to show how recklessly the printing was done or these heads are also counted for the supply.