The BJP on Saturday urged Governor SC Jamir to direct the State Government to properly implement the National Food Security Act while alleging that gross manipulations in identification of beneficiaries and distribution of ration cards have occurred in the State.
A nine-member team led by party’s State president KV Singh Deo met Jamir and submitted a memorandum to him in this regard.
The memorandum put forth some points for Governor’s consideration.
They demanded that the State Government put in place an internal grievance redressal mechanism, appoint a grievance officer and constitute a State Food Commission as per the Act.
“Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, by starting distribution of cards without proper verification of facts and status, has himself laid the foundation of the large-scale corruption in the process of implementation of NFSA. As the CM approved all illegalities in the process, it encouraged the officials to continue issuing ration cards without proper verification in lines of terms specified in NFSA,” the memorandum alleged.
The leaders too appraised the Government that there is a widespread discontentment across the State as lakhs of poor people have been deprived of the cards whereas thousands of BJD party men and there supporters have grabbed the cards.
“The arbitrary implementation of the Act in Odisha has violated the Right to life of laksh of poor people. Therefore, we request your office to intervene into the matter and ensure that the Central Act is implemented properly in true spirit so that all objectives can be achieved,” the memorandum read.
BJP national executive member Bijay Mohapatra, State secretaries Dr Jatin Mohanty, Prabhati Parida and Bhrugu Buxipatra and spokespersons Sajjan Sharma and Sameer Mohanty were in the team.