Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 23 2010:
Asserting that Public Distribution System has failed miserably in the State, the Zomi Economic Planning and Development Agency (ZEPADA) has raised serious concern over unavailability of PDS items to the general public.
Quoting a press release issued by the Churachandpur FPS Agents and Representatives as published in the October 25 issue, the ZEPADA said that 50 per cent of the PDS items for the month of May and full quota for the month of November were received and distributed in Churachandpur district.
Questioning what had happened to the remaining rice quota for full five months and a half, the ZEPADA, in a press release, decried that there was neither any explanation from the concerned Department nor the concerned Minister who is accountable for it.
If lifting of PDS items from FCI Dimapur was hampered by economic blockade, then what was the problem after it was called off, it asked.
The so called lapse of PDS items is never a valid explanation because essential items under TPDS cannot be denied or diverted due to mere procedural lapse/delays.
It further questioned the circumstances under which the concerned Department failed to clear the official process for such a long period of time.
Unless the missing PDS items are fully delivered and distributed to the intended beneficiaries, the Government is bound to face public outrage and, or legal actions, it cautioned.