Disenchanted with the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities, agitated FPS agents from Ukhrul, Chingai and Phungyar assembly constituencies on Friday took their agitation to the chamber of Ukhrul deputy commissioner to mount pressure on the government to fulfil their long-pending demands.
For the last few months, the FPS agents who are operating under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 have been demanding the release of their transport and margin money which have been pending for over 8/9 months. They have been transporting and distributing food grain to the public in their respective constituencies and have incurred significant expenses in doing so.
On Monday, the protesters had assembled at the mini-secretariat campus as early as 10 am, and by 10:30 am, they had gathered in a large group and were swarming the hallway leading to the DC office inside the district mini secretariat in the heart of the town.
For a moment, the police had a hard time controlling the huge crowd of agitators as they were in a violent mood and were ready to stay put until their demands were fulfilled or concrete assurance for the same was given.
Ukhrul SP Ningsem Vashum rose to the occasion and stepped in to avert any untoward incidents. There was also a heavy deployment of police personnel inside the mini-secretariat campus.
Meanwhile, the district administration, represented by DC Krishna Kumar, ADC Chunglenmang, and SDO Suranjoy, then met behind closed doors with the representatives of the FPS agents’ associations of Ukhrul, Chingai and Phungyar ACs inside the DC’s office in the presence of SP Vashum.
Interestingly, the district supply officer (DSO), on the other hand, was not available at the meeting because he was said to be out of station as is usual on most working days.
During the meeting, DC Krishna assured the irate FPS agents that the file process for the margin money would be completed and submitted to the Director, CAF & PD for necessary action by February 27, and that the district administration would take up the matter of transportation costs with the Director, CAF & PD as soon as possible.
For over an hour, the agitators crammed up the hallway and shouted slogans venting their angst against the indifferent attitude of the authorities concerned towards their genuine grievances and demanded that the district administration fulfill their demands and release the outstanding payments.
The agents claimed that they had repeatedly petitioned to the DC and the DSO for redressal of their grievances for the past three months. However, despite their repeated appraisal, the authorities concerned had done nothing positive to address their grievances.
The government has been dragging its feet on releasing the promised funds, leaving the Agents in a difficult financial situation and many of them are now in a difficult position to continue their services.
The ration agents have demanded that the transport contractor Yamba from PK Enterprises should be available at the time of lifting of food grain each month. They contended that he has never shown up and this has caused problems for them.
Even during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the ration agents were on the front lines, ensuring that the most vulnerable in the society had access to essential food supply.
