Imphal, May 8 (EMN): Manipur Chief Minister Chief Minister Nongthombam Singh directed the respective MLAs of hill districts and Deputy Commissioners concerned to co-ordinate with MANITRON and In-Media officials to chalk out a schedule for commencing on-the-spot biometric capturing in different villages within a week.
Chief Minister Biren made the directive while presiding a review meeting on the progress of biometric capturing in hill districts for Aadhar on Monday.
Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, MLAs, top bureaucrats of the State Government, DCs of hill districts and officials concerned attended the meeting.Biometric enumeration (BME) for Aadhar card generation is being undertaken by MANITRON and In-Media Computer in the State now.
Stating that the rate of biometric enumeration in almost all the hill districts is very low when compared with valley districts, the Chief Minister observed that BME must be expedited in hill areas as direct benefit transfer (DBT) of Government-sponsored welfare schemes would require Aadhar cards/numbers.During the meeting, the Chief Minister instructed MANITRON and In-Media officials to depute all its BME teams in hill districts leaving only 4-5 teams in the State Capital.
Principal Secretary (Planning) Vineet Joshi, who is also the Principal Secretary to CM, will monitor the progress of BME and Aadhar generation. Further directing the DCs to submit a copy of BME schedules to Vineet Joshi in a week’s time, Biren stated that he would also personally monitor the whole process every alternate day. MLAs, ADC Members and villagers are also urged to extend co-operation to the Government officials and personnel of MANITRON and In-Media during their stay in different villages for biometric capturing.
In another development to check misappropriation and adulteration food items distributed under public distribution system (PDS) in Manipur, the state authority has restricted sale of PDS items in open markets.
“…No PDS items like rice, kerosene, sugar etc which are to be distributed/delivered through fair price shops to the beneficiaries by the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public distribution department(CAF&PD) shall be sold in open market,” says Commissioner (CAF&PD) K Radhakumar Singh in an order on Monday. “Legal actions shall be initiated against the violations by CAF&PD department.”
Any member of the public, shop owners and officials found violating this directive shall be prosecuted under relevant Acts and Rules including the Prevention of Black marketing and maintenance of supplies of essential commodities Act 1980 and the Consumers Protection Act 1986,the order added. All the PDS items are to be sold at only authorized fair price shops by agents appointed by Deputy Commissioner (DC) concerned.
Acknowledging the step, Biren in a facebook post said the order has been initiated to check misappropriation of PDS and adulteration of food items distributed under PDS in the State.
