Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 15 2012: The Sustainable Livelihood Forum would organise a public hearing on July 9 and 10 at Lamyanba Shanglen, Palace Compound on the failure of the State to provide PDS items regularly in adequate quantities.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club today, convenor of the forum K Shangnaidar Tontang while conveying about the scheduled public hearing, also informed that one State working committee has been constituted comprising several civil organisations in connection with denial of PDS items to the public.

Saying that BPL families living in all the nine districts have not been receiving their due share of PDS items for a long time, the convenor asserted that people above poverty line have been enjoying the benefits of public distribution system thereby forfeiting the right to food of many impoverished families.

Observing that the existing PDS agents have not been working according to guidelines, Shangnaidar remarked that the agents have seemingly forgotten who should be the beneficiaries of public distribution system.

At the same time, some people have been misappropriating the PDS items in collusion with relevant officials.

Inviting all interested persons to the public hearing, the convenor appealed to all concerned not to impose any bandh or blockade on the two specified dates.

Human Right Alert executive director Babloo Loitongbam also appealed to all the people to participate in the public hearing without any distinction between on religion, ethnicity or language.

Supreme Court’s Right to Food Commissioner Harsh Mander would also attend the public hearing.