Arunachal Pradesh State Food Commission seeks update on PDS irregularities in Padu village

The Arunachal Pradesh State Food Commission has sought a detailed report on allegations of Public Distribution System (PDS) distribution anomalies in Padu village, Mariyang Sub-Division, Upper Siang District.

The request, made via a WT message to Deputy Commissioner Yingkiong on 12th February, followed complaints by 51 ration card holders, including the Fair Price Shop licensee from Padu village.

The complainants alleged significant discrepancies in the PDS rice distribution to new and existing beneficiaries, and claimed that their rations were unfairly distributed to 89 new ration card holders, who are not yet officially registered. The 51 aggrieved families led by Gram Chairperson Smti Sor Perme Tayeng, have called for strict action against the implicated officials, including the Circle Officer Mariyang (Mopom), the District Food and Civil Supplies Officer, and the Additional Deputy Commissioner Mariyang, for allegedly depriving legitimate ration card holders of their entitlements.

Padu Upper Gram Panchayat Chairperson, Smti Sor Perme Tayeng, along with other aggrieved ration card holders including Smty Ojing Paron Perme (GPM), Smty Tigul Tayeng (GPM), ex-GPC Tonak Tayeng, ex-GPM Katon Tayeng, Ex-GPM Eding Perme and FPS licensee of Padu village, Gumin Tayeng, issued a press statement on Sunday. They claimed that their entitled ration for the months of October, November, December 2023 and January 2024 was allocated to new ration card holders issued on 8th January 2024. Despite their ration cards being valid until May 2024 and listed on the NFSA portal, they allege the CO Mariyang Mopom and DF&CSO have unfairly distributed their ration to new beneficiaries.

Aggrieved ration card holders have lodged multiple complaints with various authorities, including the Dy. Commissioner, Yingkiong, ADC Mariyang, CO Mariyang (Mopom), and DF&CSO Yingkiong, seeking corrective action. They expressed no objection to the addition of new beneficiaries or ration cards from the village, but were upset over the removal of existing ration cards (51 families) by the concerned authorities despite their validity until May 2024. They had submitted their claims and objections to ADC Mariyang on 21st September 2023, within the 10-day notice period issued by the CO-cum-Chairperson, Beneficiaries Selection Committee (i/c ADC Mariyang) on 14th September 2023. Despite their complaints, they were summoned to appear before the CO-cum-i/c ADC on 29th September 2023, who refused to reconsider the Beneficiaries Selection Committee's meeting minute from 30th August 2023. They appealed to the Chairperson (CO Mopom) to reconsider the cancellation of the 51 existing valid ration cards, but the CO Mariyang (i/c ADC) responded aggressively and threatened to forward the revision list of 89 fresh applicants to the office of DFCSO Yingkiong for finalization. The aggrieved parties provided voice records as evidence of these heated exchanges.

In a recent press statement, 51 aggrieved families from Padu village alleged that ineligible Above Poverty Line (APL) members were added to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) list to receive benefits from Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) schemes. The families claimed that they had opposed the fresh revision of ration cards, which were valid up to May 2024. They further stated that their grievances were overlooked by CO (Mopom)-cum-i/c ADC Mariyang, leading them to approach the Deputy Commissioner of Yingkiong on 6th October 2023. Despite multiple complaints, they claimed that no corrective action has been taken. They are now calling for the intervention of the State Food Commission to resolve the issue.

Gumin Tayeng, the FPS dealer from Padu village, has alleged that 89 new ration card holders, whose cards were issued on 8th January 2024 by Circle Officer Mopom on behalf of ADC Mariyang, forcefully took away the rice stored in his godown during his absence on 12th January 2024. Tayeng claims that the new beneficiaries broke into his godown following instructions from CO Mopom. Despite being instructed by Mopom to release the rice to new beneficiaries during a Sarkar Aapke Dwar programme on 10th January 2024, Tayeng refrained due to insufficient supplies for the new and existing beneficiaries. Tayeng had lodged a complaint in Mariyang PS, but no action has been taken so far. It is worth noting that in a letter dated 31st October 2022, i/c DF&CSO Yingkiong had requested ADC/EAC to issue directions for Aadhar Card submission and phone number verification for ration card holders. However, no instructions were given for complete revision of ration cards by cancelling the valid and existing ones.

The relevant authorities in Upper Siang district, specifically ADC Mariyang as District Grievance Redressal Officer (DGRO) and CO Mopom, the Chairperson of the Beneficiaries Selection Committee, are expected to add new eligible applicants for ration cards. However, they should not remove or deprive existing ration card holders of their rights. These cardholders have valid cards until May 2024. The authorities' role includes managing the Public Distribution System (PDS) effectively and ensuring fair distribution of resources.