File complaints for redressal: Government to consumers

IMPHAL, July 9: In order to give power to consumers so that they can exercise their rights, the Director of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of Manipur, stated that if any consumer in the State has any problem regarding the implementation of the tiol Food Security Act (NFSA), they should file their formal complaint in the appropriate forum. This was said by M Yaiskul Meitei, Director of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of Manipur, while addressing a press meet organized by the DIPR on Friday as part of an exercise to publicize the activities and achievements of the various department of the State Government, stated a press release.  

For more efficient and transparent implementation of the NFSA in the state, Additiol Deputy Commissioner posted in each district has been desigted as District Grievance Redressal Officer. This would go a long way in swift and effective redressal of complaints of the consumers. To ensure accountability and as a step to check leakages in public distribution system, Monitoring/Vigilance committees have been set up at state level, district level, block level and  FPS level, he added.

He was responding to queries of media persons who raised the various complaints of consumers not getting their full quota of rice or of non-issue of cards among others. The Director informed that as mandated by Section 16 read with Section 18 of tiol Food Security Act, 2013 and in pursuance of the approval by the State Cabinet, the Manipur Disputes Redressal Commission has been set up with its office located at the Old Assembly Complex which has been functioned  as the State Food Commission. Further a helpline has been set up which the consumers can contact at 0385-2455496 and toll free 1800-345-3821.

The tiol Food Security Act was launched in the state by chief minister O Ibobi on April 25. Though upto 87% of the total population of the state which comes to 24,84,540 can be covered under NFSA, at present only 74.64%  i.e 21,31,652 comes under the purview of this act. With the state government requesting the Government of India to convert quota of wheat entitled for Manipur into rice, the state was allocated a total 11796.56 MT of rice from April 2016 onwards. Of this total quantity, 2200.415 MT is meant for AAY category while 9596 MT is set aside for priority. (IANS)