Shillong, July 25: The state BJP has said that no individual should suffer while battling corona
virus and asserted that every individual should get five kg rice till Diwali.
Bernard Marak, party vice president, spokesperson and in-charge of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana( PMGKAY), said that a virtual meeting was held on Sunday evening with the Central leaders on implementation of PMGKAY and it was informed that
every individual should get 5 kg of rice under PMGKAY till Diwali.
In Meghalaya, free rice is not reaching the poor as directed by the Centre but only ration card holders were availing rice that too on payment, he said.
In order to get a clear picture on the matter, the BJP
leaders filed queries under RTI Act which were not replied even after a month.
He said people are not getting the benefits under PMGKAY as has been directed by the centre leaders. Hence the BJP has urged the Chief
Minister Conrad Sangma to ensure that the schemes meant for the poor are issued without diversion and delay.
The BJP leader said declaration of the containment zones in various localities was causing difficulties to the poor families as no alternative arrangements were made before declaring containment zones.
Moreover, there is confusion in the notifications issued by the administration as the word “lockdown” was not mentioned in most of the orders.
“The life of the common people has come to a standstill with no source of income, no DA/TA yet the loans are being deducted as usual, the stall rents are not exempted and even the fees in the schools / colleges are not exempted. Rs 500 which was to benefit the
women groups also did not reach them”, Marak said.
The growing risk of corona cases is compelling the administration to ensure safety measures by
declaring containment zones in various places, however BJP disagrees in depriving the poor’, Marak said. PMGKAY was specifically meant to provide food to the poor families so concerned authorities should have
made alternative arrangements to assist the public before
declaring containment zones, he said.
