The police and officials of the Civil Supply Department here in joint drive lodged complaints against 101 persons of the district for availing rations under NFSA without having the eligibility.
Of the ineligible beneficiaries, while 21 were arrested, a maximum number has been identified in Sambalpur Municipal Corporation area, SMC Commissioner Bimalendu Roy informed.
During the special drive in all nine blocks and the municipal area of the district, a good number of ration cards in hands of the ineligible have been detected. Even women in good number have been found capturing cards through fraud, CSO Pitambar Acharya informed.
“Cases have been registered against them under Sections 177, 182 and 420 of IPC,” the CSO added.
It is further learnt that Rs 1. 8 lakh have been collected as recovery from the persons. Moreover, after knowing legal action against the unworthy persons getting such cards, 516 persons withdrew their application forms from the very beginning. 1,009 families didn’t receive the cards. 1,311 families returned cards out of fear.
Similarly, 4,658 families didn’t come to the distribution centre to receive card, told the CSO. “The process of verification of cards will continue till end of the current month,” the Municipal Commissioner informed.
However, Jaybrata Dey, former chairman of Sambalpur Development Authority (SDA) and a senior leader of BJD, has also demanded strong action against the Government officials who are totally responsible for the entire illegal work. “It is rather the Government officials whose action is more dubious that the common people,” Dey said in a Press release.
He also demanded action against persons who have got BPl cards through similar illegal practices.