Imphal, September 20, 2009: A team of the Central Vigilance Committee constituted to look into the maladies that are affecting the proper functioning of the Public Distribution System (PDS) is visiting Manipur on September 25 and hold a public meeting the same day at the State Guest House at Sanjenthong here.

An official source said, the objective of the meeting to be held at 4 pm on that day is to invite suggestions from the public for remedial measures.

Those interested persons may attend the meeting and give their suggestions and opinions.

Meanwhile, an official statement of the Under Secretary, Department of Consumer Affair, Food and Public Distribution informed that card holder consumers, representatives of the Fair Price Shop Dealers Associations, NGOs, Women Self Help Groups, transporters and interested groups of the state will be invited to share their views and give suggestions on the matters affecting the PDS.

A chance to express problems faced by them in relation to the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department or related to Fair Price Shops, Food Corporation of India or any other authority/body concerned with PDS will also be given to those present in the hearing, the official source informed.

The hearing is to be conducted under the initiative of the Central Vigilance Committee under the chairmanship of Mr Justice DP Wadhwa, a former Judge of the Supreme Court of India.

The committee, constituted by an order of the Supreme Court, has been constituted to look into the maladies that are affecting the proper functioning of the PDS and also suggest remedial measures.

The committee is giving special focus on the mode of appointment of dealers, ideal rate of commission payable to the dealers, modalities as to how the Vigilance Committees already in place can function better and how there can be transparency in allotment of the food stock to be sold at the shops.

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