Editorial
OMS in Khulna
Give it to genuine traders
Areport published in this newspaper yesterday says that 25 out of 31 dealers appointed for open market sale of rice in Khulna city belong to the ruling party. The point is relevant, because genuine rice traders have been overlooked as political connection seems to have been the criterion for appointing the dealers.
Selling rice under the OMS is a well-intentioned programme that aims to help the low-income group. However, it can be effective only when experienced and honest dealers are appointed to sell rice or any other commodity allotted by the government for OMS. So, appointment of professional dealers would have added to the credibility of the government alongside enhancing the efficiency of the programme itself. It has been further reported that some of the dealers do not even own shops in the city. However, the most serious allegation against some dealers is that they might not be selling the whole lot of rice that was delivered to them. Locals have complained that in some cases sale of rice is stopped just after one hour of its beginning in the morning. While the dealers have dismissed such complaints as baseless, it seems the process lacks transparency and supervision and therefore must be gone into and the public assured of corrective measures.
The regional controller of food of Khulna would do well to report to the government and help dispel the suspicions creeping in regarding the activities of the dealers by ensuring that rice is sold as per the agreement reached between the dealers and the food department.
It is clearly not enough to identify an area where an OMS programme may help the people to get a commodity at a much cheaper price. Equally important is the task of giving such programmes a neutral and transparent character free from any political bias. Open market sale of rice is essentially designed to bring relief to people in general and it must not degenerate into a business with profiteering as its sole motive. The Khulna case should alert the decision makers to the possibility of a welfare-oriented venture being exploited by elements having political connections. It can only set a bad example and cause more harm than good by derailing OMS.
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