In response to the increasing incidents of illegal sugar smuggling along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya, the state government has instructed all districts and subdivisions to collaborate with the Border Security Force (BSF) and other relevant departments to curb such activities and control sugar prices.
As per media report, the directive was issued by the Department of Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs after a discussion during a meeting of the State Consumer Protection Council on Friday.
The meeting, chaired by Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister Comingone Ymbon, addressed issues including the promotion of fortified rice and its awareness. It also recommended regular inspections of petrol pumps in response to complaints about fuel adulteration.
Minister Ymbon, who also serves as the chairman of the State Consumer Protection Council, urged officials to establish a robust system for conducting consumer awareness programs and educating consumers about their rights at both district and state levels.
He further suggested involving self-help groups (SHGs) to spread awareness among grassroots communities.
Commissioner & Secretary of the Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department, Pravin Bakshi, stated that the meeting aimed to evaluate various departmental initiatives such as the Price Monitoring System (PMS), which tracks the prices of 22 essential commodities to provide advance feedback for policy interventions, ensuring the availability of essential commodities, and keeping prices stable at district and subdivision levels.
The meeting was attended by members of the State Consumer Protection Council, including MLAs Rupert Momin, Santa Mary Shylla, and Damanbait Lamare, along with other officials.
