Cachar BJP alleges anomalies in food security scheme
FROM OUR
CORRESPONDENT
SILCHAR, May 12: In a press-meet held in the party headquarters of Cachar District BJP has discussed about the burning problem being faced by the people regarding the AAY and NFSA rice to be distributed at a subsidized rate, here, today. BJP leader Awadhesh Kumar Singh said, “The purpose behind this press-meet is to ensure that right information regarding the price of rice can be dissemited to the people. Government of Assam has announced subsidy of Re. 1 per kg on the cost of rice which is supplied under tiol Food Security Act at the rate of Rs. 3 per kg. In rural areas, people are not getting the benefit of these subsided rates.”
Upon frequent visits to various fair price shops, it has been found that the owners have been charging either Rs. 4 per kg and Rs. 4.50 per kg of rice.
Singh also said before elections, government declared that rice under these two schemes would be available just for Re. 1 per kg per for every families. To facilitate the scheme, Rs. 1,64,56,674.26 and Rs. 1,63,53,174 for the month of March and April was deposited by the government of Assam to the Food Corporation of India, Guwahati for total rice allotment of F.C.I., Silchar zone. But no amount has been yet deposited by the Assam government for the current month. This has created a lot of problems for the poor people.
“Owing to this reason, the F.C.I. is charging Rs. 3 per kg and for which only two-thirds of the total allotment of rice is being lifted by the respective dealers. This scheme is one of the best schemes because it reaches and benefits the poorest of the poor people. Any discrepancy in this matter cannot be tolerated,” Singh added to say.
The F.C.I is helpless in this regard. They have not curtailed the amount of rice that was meant to be distributed. There are six sub-divisiol zones under Silchar F.C.I. zone that comprise Cachar, Lakhipur, Halflong, Maibong, Karimganj and Hailakandi. Per month 26,949.84 quintals of rice under Antodoy An Yoja (AAY) and 1, 36,638.88 quintals of rice under An Surakhsa Yoja has been provided for the people. Awadhesh Singh said, “For Cachar, the allotment of rice is high since there are two sub-divisiol zones, Silchar and Lakhipur. But for the last few days, dealers of some fair price shops have been selling rice at a higher rate than the stipulated one.” It has been reported by the dealers that they have not been getting their cost of transporting quintals of rice since the month of January, 2016 and so they are bound to charge Rs. 3 per kg or provide less in quantity that is 5 kg per head to the consumers. “We want that people should know the truth and also the right reason behind dealers selling rice at the rate of Rs. 3 per kg,” stated Singh. He mentioned it in particular that there is a lacu in the sate government machinery because even transportation cost has been curtailed since the month of January. The rats vary according to the geography of a place. The transportation cost varies from Rs. 130 per quintal plain regions to Rs. 150 for hilly regions. It has been requested to the authorities concerned to make sure that the one-third quantity of total allotment left with the F.C.I., which stands at 24335 quintals approximately is lifted within the month of May.
Earlier, today, the party members have visited the office of the Deputy Commissioner of the districts and handed over him a letter requesting him to take immediate action in this regard. They have requested that payment of transportation cost and dealers’ commission may be regularised in due time.
Among others who were present in the press-meet include Nitya Bhushan Dey and Nihar Ranjan Das.
