Samabai Samitis suffering due to non-release of commission for years

LAKHIMPUR: The successive Congress-led State governments and the existing BJP-led alliance government have pushed the Gaon Panchayat level Samabai Samitis (GPSS) of the State to the brink of destruction with their 'step-motherly attitude'.

Due to the alleged lackadaisical attitude of the government, crores of commission for the distribution of food items under various schemes launched by the government, to be paid to 777 Samabai Samitis of the State, have remained pending for years. As a result of it, the GPSS, which have been distributing rice and other food items to the poor people of the State, are facing pecuniary difficulties. Moreover, the employees and workers of the GPSS are also facing financial challenges to run their families due to the same reason.

The matter of concern is that the central share of commission payable to the GPSS by the government on account of distributing the rice allotted under National Food Security Act (NFSA) has not been released to 777 GPSS of the State since August to the current month. The state share of commission to be paid for the distribution of rice allotted under the same Act has also not been released to them since April of the year to the current month.

On the other hand, the GPSS have distributed rice, gram and masoor dal (lentil) allotted under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana since April of the current year. But the commissions of the central share and state share to be paid to the GPSS from April to November for the distribution of these food items has been unpaid till date. Similarly, the commission granted to the GPSS for the distribution of rice and gram to the families having no NFSA ration card during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown situation from the month of April has also not been released to the GPSS till day.

The GPSS of the State got the NFSA rice, which was allotted by the government in April, released by paying cash amount to the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The government directed the GPSS to supply this rice to the beneficiaries free of cost and gave word that the government would repay them the amount which the GPSS paid to the FCI. But this capital of the GPSS has not been repaid to them by the government till date. Moreover, most of the GPSS of the State are yet to receive the amount of Rs. 10,000 which was granted to them by the government after launching the Anna Yojana in April of the year by organizing a meeting at the auditorium of the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital under the auspices of the Food and Civil Supply Department of the State Government.

The matter of grave concern is that the commission payable to the GPSS of the State from April of 2011 to November of 2015 for the distribution of rice allotted under Antyodya Anna Yojana is still pending. Similarly, the State Government has not released the amount of commission to the GPSS till date for the distribution of rice allotted under Anna Surakshya Yojana from July of 2011 to March of 2012. The GPSS have not received these pending dues till date despite consecutive prayers and petitions made to the government. Under such circumstances, the GPSS of the State have to continue their services to implement the aspiring welfare schemes adopted and launched by the governments and to provide food to the people under adverse conditions.

Regarding the serious issue of the pending dues to be paid to the GPSS, a crucial meeting of the GPSS Secretaries' Association, covering North Lakhimpur, Dhakuakhana, Dhemaji, Jonai and Majuli subdivisions, was held at the office of North Lakhimpur Wholesaler Consumers' Co-operative Society Limited, located at Khelmati of North Lakhimpur town on Monday. The meeting commenced with Mrinal Saikia, the newly-selected president of Lakhimpur District GPSS Secretaries' Association, in the chair. Explaining the objective of the event, Durgeswar Gogoi, the president of the Lakhimpur District GPSS Co-ordination Committee, sketched the detailed account of the pending dues of the GPSS. The meeting discussed the issues seriously and urged the Chief Minister and the State Government as well as the Food and Civil Supply Department to release all these unpaid dues to the GPSS within January of the next year.

Also Watch: PM address farmers

Also Read: Sashastra Seema Bal Tezpur to hold Pension Adalat