Manipur Tribals Deprived of PMGKAY Rice for Months Due to Corruption, Warn of Protests

New Delhi- Nongthombam Biren Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur, has been urged by the Movement for People's Rights Forum (MPRFM) to address the issue of poor people in at least two tribal hill districts who have not received rice for months under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). According to MPRFM, a nexus between government officials and transport contractors is to blame.

On May 17, MPRFM appealed to the Chief Minister, highlighting the "illegal conduct" of consumer affairs, food, and public distribution officials, along with certain contractors, who have disrupted the monthly rice distribution system under PMGKAY. This scheme is intended to benefit hundreds of people in the hill regions of the state affected by caste violence.

The forum identified Noney and Tamenglong as the most affected districts.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the Central Government announced the provision of free food grains to approximately 81.35 crore beneficiaries across the country under the PMGKAY for five years starting January 1. The objective is to ensure food and nutrition security at an estimated cost of Rs 11.80 lakh crore over this period.

This scheme was initiated in April 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, aiming to provide 5 kg of free food grains per person per month to all beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act.

In Manipur, the Biren Singh government launched similar schemes and policies to bridge the gap between the hilly areas and the resource-rich Imphal valley.

MPRFM President Gonmei Kuripo stated, “Some officials of the Manipur government, in connivance with certain transport contractors, are selling large quantities of PMGKAY rice on the black market, particularly in Noney and Tamenglong districts, thereby violating the fundamental rights of the beneficiaries. Even among those aware of PMGKAY, there are reports of unequal distribution and bias in the allocation of benefits.”

The forum highlighted that PMGKAY rice was not distributed to beneficiaries in the hill districts during July and November 2023, and from February to May 2024.

“The absence of PMGKAY benefits disproportionately impacts vulnerable groups such as low-income families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities,” the forum noted. "Many families are struggling for basic livelihood due to economic challenges caused by the recent Meitei-Kuki violence." The forum urged the Chief Minister to address the corruption among government officials and take action against transport contractors before the situation worsens.

The forum warned that people would launch democratic protests and agitations if the authorities did not take swift and decisive action to meet their demands.

S. Dongthin Sang, 30, a volunteer at the relief camp set up by YVA (Young Vaiphei Association) in an old school building near IB Road District Hospital Churachandpur, said that the relief camp still houses more than four hundred people. “Government pulses and rice are available, but other expenses are also required in the relief camp; there is no provision for them,” said Dongthin Sang.

In August last year, The Mooknayak team reported in its ground report how people living in relief camps in the violence-hit state were completely dependent on food items provided by local social organizations, donors, and churches.

However, while investigating several relief camps in the Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district situated in the hills, The Mooknayak team met Churachandpur DC (Deputy Commissioner) Dharun Kumar to get information about the government preparations on the relief camps suffering from unavailability of medicines and shortage of ration. He told The Mooknayak, “We have made arrangements to send adequate ration materials to the relief camps.” Churachandpur DC also shared with The Mooknayak the list containing the names of the relief camps and the materials to be delivered to them.