While the State Government’s action against ineligible ration cardholders and return of the same with penalty has rocked the State, the Congress and BJP here in the steel city have declared a 12-hour bandh on August 11, protesting the decision of the State
Government. Both the parties have already staged separate demonstrations here.
Senior BJP leader and Rourkela MlA Dilip Ray in a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, besides narrating the plights of thousands of poor and downtrodden people of the State due to the Government action on return of cards, payment of fines and legal action against them, requested his intervention in the matter and stop all the reprisal measures with immediate effect.
Ray in his letter blamed the State Government for the mess, alleging that the State Government not only inordinately delayed implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in the State but also introduced nine-point criteria in the middle of card survey process creating confusion at all levels.
“The official survey in Rourkela for selection of beneficiaries started in February 2015 with eight criteria as fixed by Central Government whereas the State Government vide notification dated 10.08.2015 introduced nine more points, where in it debarred the persons, who have three or more rooms concrete house, from getting the ration card,” Ray mentioned in his letter.
“The ration card distribution in the State had started in December 2015, but again in March 2016 the State Government modified its 9-point criteria adding a sub clause that the persons having three room asbestos/tile roof houses will also not be eligible for ration cards,” Ray mentioned. The State Government in a notice appealed to the people who have already availed the ration card, but have a three-room asbestos or tile roof houses, to return the card within next seven days, or else face penal action, Ray added.
These beneficiaries have been asked to pay fine of Rs30 per kg of rice, Rs22 per kg of wheat and Rs50 per liter of kerosene, which they had purchased at Rs1 for rice and wheat and Rs18 per liter of kerosene, against their ration card. These beneficiaries are now mortgaging their property/gold and other assets to pay fine, he said.
Similarly, District Congress Committee here which had staged a demonstration recently, protesting the legal action against hundreds of beneficiaries, declared to hold a 12-hour bandh on August 11.