Digboi: Amidst the Assam government’s claims of zero tolerance for corruption, a massive scam involving the Public Distribution System (PDS) has been uncovered in the Margherita Sub Division of Tinsukia district.
According to official records, there are 474 Fair Price Shops (FPS) and 7 Gaon Panchayat Samabai Samities (GPSS) in the subdivision. However, numerous beneficiaries have reported shortages and poor quality of PDS wheat and flour.
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Investigations have revealed that the Gaon Panchayat Samabai Samities (GPSS), responsible for distributing PDS commodities, are allegedly colluding with millers and traders to divert a significant portion of the wheat to the black market. This has led to artificial shortages and inflated prices for consumers.
Several FPS agents and beneficiaries have accused the GPSS of receiving the wheat from millers but failing to distribute it effectively. They claim that the societies are deliberately creating shortages by distributing the monthly quota in installments.
Moreover, there are allegations of a powerful network of black marketeers operating in the area, with connections to influential people, including a BJP office bearer from Dibrugarh district.
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A source within the Margherita FPS, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that this is a multi-crore scam that has been going on for years but has been covered up due to media manipulation by traders and contractors.
The investigation has also uncovered irregularities in the procurement and milling of wheat by the licensed mills. One of the mills, Sri Prabhat Food Product Industry, has been allocated significant quantities of wheat but has reportedly been lying inoperative for an extended period.
The Food and Civil Supply department has come under scrutiny for its failure to ensure proper quality checks and timely distribution of PDS commodities.
Officials have admitted that the department has not been able to verify utilization certificates (UCs) submitted by various agencies and that the distribution data has not been uploaded to the Annavitaran Portal.
The Margherita Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) has acknowledged the irregularities and has initiated an investigation into the matter. However, concerns remain about the ability of the administration to address the deep-rooted corruption within the PDS system.