4.5 tonne of rice meant for PDS found hoarded in Pondy

          Puducherry, Aug 5 (PTI) About 4.5 tonne of rice meant for distribution through the Public Distribution System in Tamil Nadu was found hoarded at a private rice mill in a village here today, police said. 

           A team of officers attached to the Civil Supplies Department of Tamil Nadu government found the hoarded rice, which was allegedly smuggled from the neighbouring district of Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu, police said. The owner of the rice mill, loacted in Kudiyirupupalayam, was also arrested for alleged smuggling and hoarding of the rice from Cuddalore, about 23 km from Puducherry. Empty gunny bags carrying the emblem of Tamil Nadu State and about 130 bags of adulterated rice were also seized, they said. The seized rice bags were transported back to Cuddalore, they added.

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Manifestos should reflect consumer rights

CUDDALORE: 

            On the occasion of the International Consumer Day, observed on Tuesday, the Consumer Federation-Tamil Nadu has appealed to political parties to incorporate the rights of consumers in their election manifestos. Federation executive general secretary M.Nizamudeen told The Hindu that the forum had sent representations to all parties, the Governor and the Chief Electoral Officer in this regard. It called for formation of separate department for consumer protection. It suggested streamlining of the public distribution department because in the existing setup the cooperative department, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation and District Supply Officer were functioning independently with varied power structure. All these departments should be merged and brought under the public distribution department.

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Loadmen offer to surrender ration cards

CUDDALORE:

          Loadmen working with the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, along with their family members, staged a demonstration in front of the Collectorate here on Wednesday, offering to surrender their ration cards.

            According to K. Arjunan, district president of the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation Loadmen State Welfare Union, surrendering the cards was tantamount to voluntarily foregoing citizenship rights, because their rightful demands remained unfulfilled for years. Addressing the gathering, he said that the loadmen were given wages at the rate of 89 paise for handling a 100-kg bag. On an average, the loadmen were carrying 3.25 lakh tonnes of foodgrains in the State, and that too without any respite, because being daily wage workers they were not entitled to any off or holiday. Even on government holidays, if necessary, they would have to work.

           Mr. Arjunan also said that these loadmen were behind the uninterrupted supply of essential commodities to the Public Distribution System and yet they could not stake claim to their rights. They would have to work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., climbing over mounds of bags, risking their lives. Many loadmen, who had fracture because of such strenuous work, were being looked after by the fellow loadmen on humanitarian grounds. Mr. Arjunan also said that 8,000 workers were doing full-time job and 10,000 others, part-time jobs with the TNCSC. They had been staging agitations in support of their 14-charter of demands, including regularisation of service, time-scale pay and job security, but in vain.

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TNCSC load-men go on strike

CUDDALORE: 

           The load-men attached to the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) godowns in Cuddalore district began their indefinite strike on Monday. They struck work in support of their demands such as regularisation of service, time scale pay and job security. It is learnt that if the strike continues the supply of essentials to the fair price shops, student hostels and central prison would be hit.

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