Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 16 2008:
Don Bosco Social Welfare (DBWS) and Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), Manipur have jointly conducted a Right to Food Campaign over a period of six days from October 10 to 15 covering many interior villages of Tamenglong district.
The team comprising of assistant director of HRLN Maibam Paikhomba Meitei, programme co-ordinator of DBWS George Hanglai and field staff of DBWS Poukindiyang along with a field reporter of ISTV visited villages like Sibilong I and II, Tolen, Kaimai Naga, Kaimai Kuki, Oinamlong I-IV and Nuangkao I and I (native village of Rani Gaidinliu) and Kaiphundai besides inspecting Kaiphundai Rice Godown, which is the Principal Distribution Centre under PDS.
Presenting a report of the team's finding, a statement signed jointly by assistant director of HRLN M Paikhomba Meetei and programme co-ordinator of DBWS George Hanglai conveyed that the team found that the villagers of Sibilong, Tolen, Kaimai Naga and Kaimai Kuki have not been getting any PDS items like rice, sugar and SK Oil for more than 10 years.
To the utmost surprise of the team, the villagers did not even know what PDS system is and what items they are supposed to get under this scheme or the existence of Fair Price Shop agents and SK oil sub-dealers.
However, one Alun Singsit, who is the pastor of Salvation Army of Kaimai Kuki Village and Vice Chairman of Oinamlong Range Development Co-ordinating Team (DCT) told the team that he was once appointed as a PDS agent of his village and he used to provide rice to the villagers 10 years back.
But after that, no rice or for that matter no other PDS items like Sugar and SK Oil have been provided to the villagers all these years.
As for Oinamlong I-IV and Nungkao I and II, the villagers reportedly received 13 kgs of rice at the rate of Rs 13 per kg under PDS once this year during the month of March.
In respect of SK oil, none of the villages except Oinamlong have been getting it for the last many years.
The report further pointed out that benefits of the schemes like Mid-day Meal, ICDS, SSA, JSY, Family Benefit Scheme, Old Age Pension, etc have not reached the said villages.
The village chiefs of Tousem sub-division informed that no survey for classification of families for entitlement of APL, BPL and AAY cards have been conducted.
During their visit to two EGS centres under SSA at Nuangkao Part I and II, the team learnt that none of the children learning in the two centres have been provided any sort of facilities like school uniforms, books, note books, pencil/pen, etc.
The condition of the buildings is also no better than a cowshed with Chatai walls and having a dimension of about 5 X 10 feet.
Among Govt primary schools, only those at Nuangkao village have reportedly received 24 quintal of Mid Day rice from the Department concerned during this year, the report said, adding that none of the Aganwadi Centres in these villages have also been provided with water filter, toy kits, playing kits and other food supplements with exception to tinned Bhalbhok.
With regard to implementation of NREGS in Tousem sub-division, the villagers have been provided job for less than the stipulated 100 days, which is against the guidelines of the scheme, the report added, while drawing the attention of the Government to all these anomalies.