Western Sumi Youth Front slams malpractice at Fair Price Shop

DIMAPUR — The Western Sumi Youth Front (WSYF) has condemned the alleged malpractice at a Fair Price Shop (FPS), where the owner was accused of not only charging above the government-prescribed rates but also robbing beneficiaries of one kilo of rice per person in the name of “carriage charges.”

In a press release, the WSYF stated that such acts are nothing less than daylight robbery committed against the poorest of the poor.

“It is shameful that individuals who are entrusted with the sacred duty of serving the underprivileged stoop so low as to exploit them for personal profit. These are not just dishonest shop owners — they are profiteers thriving at the cost of the hungry, snatching away the rights of the most vulnerable sections of society,” the front stated.

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The WSYF demanded that the Department of Food and Civil Supplies immediately launch state-wide checks of all FPS outlets, expose every single shop indulging in such scams, and take the harshest possible action, including outright cancellation of their licences.

“No mercy should be shown to those who cheat the poor and erode public trust in the system. Prompt intervention will protect the interests of the needy and uphold the credibility of the public distribution system.

“The WSYF also calls upon the general public to remain vigilant. Any citizen who encounters such fraudulent practices at fair price shops is urged to report the matter immediately to the concerned authorities. Only through collective action and courage can such exploitation be rooted out,” it stated.

The youth front reiterated that it will not remain silent in the face of such injustice.

“The rights of the poor are non-negotiable, and any attempt to rob them will be met with strong resistance and relentless exposure,” it added.