PDS scam comes to light in Cachar dist

Assam Tribune: Silchar: Saturday, April 20, 2013.

A scam in the PDS (public distribution system), which relates to the Food and Civil Supplies Department, has come to light in Cachar district.

According to reliable sources, sugar under the PDS meant for a population of more than 1,73,000 in the urban areas here for the months of May, 2011 and June, 2012 has not been distributed although it has been shown allotted to fair price shop owners.

The president of the Silchar Press Club, Sanat Kairi was informed, when he sought information under RTI, that the sugar to family identity card holders in Silchar town for May, 2011 and June, 2012 was duly allotted. But in practice, no consumer received any sugar due to its non-allotment and thereby 3,440 quintals of sugar were misappropriated in these two months.

In another RTI query of Kairi, the Food and Civil Supplies Department has informed that during the 10 months from March to November, 2012, a total 1,00,496 quintals of atta were allotted to 219 ration shop owners in the urban areas here and 24 GPSSs (Gaon Panchayat-level Samabay Samittees) in Cachar district. In this case also, no atta has been allotted, depriving consumers and approximately Rs 80 lakh has been misappropriated month-wise.

Kairi alleged that the Grahak Suraksha Samity of Cachar has failed miserably to unearth such corruption under the PDS system in the district. He alleged that its general secretary, Biplab Kumar Goswami is seen posing as the spokesman of the Food & Civil Supplies Department.