Where have all the PDS items gone ?

Nongpoh, Sept 24: It is shocking but true, Mynsain village under the Ri-Bhoi district has not receive food items through the Public Distribution System (PDS) for the last ten years except in May and September this year. According to records this tiny village has about fifty BPL families but these families have never receive any food items through the PDS but only twice.

This glaring fact also exposes the level of corruption that is taking place under the PDS. Complaints have been lodged by these BPL families who have been deprived of the food items and they have alleged that the “headman”- who is also a ration card holder-, has failed to distribute the PDS items for the last ten years.

Only in May and September 2012 rice were distributed at 10 kg per BPL families at Rs 150.The complainants also informed about the anomalies that exist as there is no classification between the poor and rich families in the village and rice were equally distributed during the two times they actually got the food item through the PDS.

The CSWO has taken up the grievances of the villager and its president Agnes Kharshiing has lodged complaints to the Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi District to take action against the dealers, local headman and the gramsevak for violating the Supreme Court order by not distributing the PDS items for the last ten years in Mynsain village.

Kharshinging,said in her complaint to deputy commissioner of Ri-Bhoi District, the CSWO has demanded the supply department to issue the ration cards to every villagers who fall under AAY, BPL and APL. CSWO has also urged the district head of Ri-Bhoi district to instruct the supply department to keep on checking the distribution of public distribution system in every villages of Ri-Bhoi District.- By Our Reporter