Alleging serious irregularities in preparation and distribution of new digital ration cards to beneficiaries under National Food Securities Act (NFSA), a group of Congress leaders led by former Union Minister Chandrasekhar Sahu met the Brahmapur Sub-Collector Nikhil Pawan Kalyan at his office chamber here on Thursday and demanded review the entire distribution system.
Sahu alleged that a large number of eligible applicants like those from physically-challenged, economically weaker section and needy populace have not been listed as beneficiaries while on the other hand, cards have been issued to rich and influential persons, most of whom are reportedly sympathisers of the ruling party.
Sahu demanded a fresh survey of the deserving beneficiaries and review of the digitized ration cards which so far have already been distributed on party line in order to remove the bogus and undeserving beneficiaries from the list and bring transparency in distribution. If the district administration does not review the matter, he warned, Congress would resort to agitation.
Brahmapur Sub-Collector Kalyan reportedly assured the Congress leaders that he would take up the matter with the BMC Commissioner soon.
According to information available, the Gajapati Congress MlA is on dharana at Paralakhemundi since last Tuesday demanding the inclusion of deserving candidates in the list of beneficiaries.
Among others, PCC general secretary Bikram Kesari Panda, District Congress spokesperson Pitabas Panda, DCC president Dr Bhagaban Gantayat and all Congress Corporators of BMC were present during discussion.
Notably, the BMC has prepared a list of 1.26 lakh beneficiaries under the scheme and opened the ‘Ration Card Management Cell’ for redressal of grievances. A committee has been constituted by the BMC to review the list to suggest the inclusion of deserving candidates and deletion of undeserving candidates.
BJP leader Rama Chandra Panda also had brought similar allegations of irregularities in Ganjam and Chatrapur blocks. Besides, members of civil societies, NGOs, social workers in the district also had raised objection to the tampering in the list if beneficiaries.