IMPHAL, July 19: A three-day awareness programme on Public Distribution System begins at the Banquet Hall of Hotel Imphal, North AOC today.
The awareness programme organised by the Department of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution mainly focused on TDPS/PDS in Imphal East.
Speaking as the functional president, Deputy Commissioner of Imphal East, RK Dinesh Singh said that agents and the beneficiaries of PDS largely lack awareness.
Narrating an incident how a government teacher approached him for a BPL Card, he said that there is total lack of awareness on the part of the people. In Manipur instances like a local MLA forwarding an application to the district authorities for issue of BPL, APL and AAY is a common practice. However, it is the sole authority of the Panchayati Raj Institution to handle the matter, he added.
RK Dinesh further maintained, “The power to grant a family with any of these card lies with the Gram Sabha. Only after it is approved by the sabha, the pradhan has to send the proposals to the district authority and further to the government for issue of such cards”.
Warning against the possession of cards other than one’s own self, the deputy commissioner stated that there are enough laws sanctioned to prosecute persons possessing of cards of others.
Sharing on the same line, Chinglen Meisnam of Manipur University also doubted whether PDS in Manipur remains a myth. He is of the opinion that the schemes don’t reach the targeted people; rather it is the middleman who enjoys it.
However he is optimistic that a system is going to change for the good. Citing an example, he said, “The introduction of RTI Act and the employment of information and communication technology have greatly reduced the chance of its misuse by unfaithful agents”.
Today’s function was attended by P Bimola, Adhyaksha of Imphal East; RK Dinesh Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Imphal East and M Yaiskul Meitei, Director CAF&PD as the chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.
It also includes resource person from concerned officials like N Meghachandra Singh, SA Helim and Dr Ch Narendra. It may be mentioned that the awareness program that begins today will continue till July 21.