Ukl FCS Agents : Memo demands

 

Ukhrul FCS Agents submitted Memorandum to CM: set 6th March deadline

( Fulfill our long-standing geniune demands: Ukl Agents)

(Ukl FCS Agents - " PC')

The Dawn Tantak
Ukhrul,2th Mar'24

THE FCS Ration Agents' Associations of Ukhrul  District, comprising 44-Ukhrul AC and 45-Chingai AC have submitted  a Memorandum to Chief Minister  and expressed their disappointment with the relevant authorities for failing to fulfill  their demands despite multiple appels.

In the Memo the Associations have issued a stern warning that they will initiate a series  of intense agitation if their long-standing demands for transport and margin money are not fulfilled by March  2024.

In a press conference on Saturday, the president of the Ukhrul Ration Agents' Association, Qt. Luingam Lunghar, addressed a press conference in Ukhrul town and highlighted the fact that the Food and Civil Supplies (FCS) agents operating in the 44-Ukhrul and 45-Chingai assembly constituencies have not received the stipulated transportation cost for the past two years, as well as Margin mone for several months.

Lunghar stated, 'We once again appeal to the authorities concerned to fulfill our long-pending demands by March 6. If our demands are not met by this date, we will have no choice but to launch a democratic form of agitation immediately.

The failure of the relevant authorities to meet the demands of the Ration Agents’ Associations has created an overwhelming sense of frustration and discontent among its members. “Despite our repeated pleas, the authorities have failed to take adequate measures to address our grievances.”

As a result, the agents are left with no option but to raise their voices and protest against the injustice they have been facing for an extended period of time, he said.

According to Lunghar, the 44-Ukhrul Ration Agents’ Association, on behalf of all the 101 FCS agents (ID card holders) of Ukhrul constituency, submitted a memorandum to CM Biren Singh through Ukhrul DC Zuringla Kengoo on February 27 last, and the same was copied to CAF&PD Minister L.Sushindro Singh and Ukhrul MLA Ram Muivah, requesting immediate payment of the pending transportation and margin money.

Nevertheless, in this regards we have personally submitted the same Memo to CM and Minister through their official registered Dak and personaly meet and submitted to the director of CAF& PD on Friday said ,Ngachonpam Kasar secretary  of the Agents Association.

Lunghar said non-payment of the transportation and margin money for PMGKAY and NFSA to the FCS agents, for a prolonged period has only added to the struggles of their livelihood.

He  further amplifies that the agents have been shouldering the burden of transportation costs and labor expenses for loading and unloading of ration for the past 24 months, which should have been covered by the transport contractor and relevant department under the Prime Minister's flagship program ( Free rice for all) which happens to be the only top genuine benifit that reach the rural poor   and enjoy by every citizens of the country.

"This has left the agents of Ukhrul and Chingai constituency with no other choice but to unanimously decide to take a democratic form of agitation if their demands are not met by the first week of March 2024," he adds.

At the same time, Lunghar pleaded that before clearing the outstanding payments to the agents the department should not entertain any new agents or replace the existing ones and requested that the authorities refrain from advertising notifications for new agents.

While margin money is to provide them with Rs. 65 per quintal( to the agents according to their monthly allocation respectively) the rate of transport cost has never been disclosed ( as the transport contractor never show-up / turn up on his duty) in fact , the transport contractor should be stationed at the depot to provide the same during the time of free rice distribution to the respective agents, he further said.