Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) spokesperson Dr lalatendu Mohapatra on Friday hit out at the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD Government for irregularities in distribution of ration cards under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
“The Government has issued ration cards to many rich and influential people, including elected representatives, leaders, workers and sympathizers of the BJD, for its political benefit. For this, lakhs of deserving poor families have been deprived of essential commodities,” alleged Mohapatra at a Press conference here.
He said the Government didn’t take any strong step even though the
Congress had earlier complained about it. The then Cuttack Mayor Anita Behera had to resign after the Congress’ complaint against her was proved right, he said.
Raising migration of labuorers issue, Mohapatra said the State Government has not paid compensation to many rescued workers as of now.
Citing an example, he said though the Andhra Pradesh Government has rescued Sundarmani of Balangir from a brick-kiln twice in last 18 months and sent him back to Odisha, the Government here was yet to provide any compensation as per the Bonded labour System (Abolition) Act 1976. Such labourers deserve to get Rs 20,000 as assistance under the Act, he said.
In January this year, 12-year-old Sushant Kumbhar from Balangir district was tortured by a brick kiln operator in Karnataka and though rescued with a twisted arm, is yet to be compensated, he said.
As many as 1,19,001 migrant workers were sent to other States through 3,044 labour agents under Interstate Migrant Workmen Act 1979, he said.