Of late, plastic rice or fake rice has triggered panic among the locals in the tribals-dominated Gajapati district. To make matters worse, it is being adulterated with the rice available in Government schemes under the Food Security Act.
Under the PHH scheme, rice is being provided to 4, 20,314 family members through 1, 06,548 ration cards in the district. In this scheme, 5 kg rice is being supplied per head to every family member at the rate of Rs 1.
Similarly, under the Antyodaya Yojana there are 2,041 cards in the district under which 35 kg of rice is provided per ration card at the rate of Rs 1. There are 61,330 family members under the Antyodaya Yojana in the entire district. The two schemes are being implemented by the district Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department.
The rice stored in the Food Corporation of India godown is provided by some mill owners in Parlakhemundi municipal area, Kashi Nagar NAC and six blocks of the district. In the urban areas PDS dealers and in the six blocks the gram panchayats are providing the rice in the district. For the last few months it was alleged that plastic rice was being adulterated with PDS rice. The residents of Buludapanka village in Mohana block alleged that the rice provided by Government is not fit for human consumption and smells like plastic. The locals have demanded that the district administration should take immediate action against the supply of adulterated rice.
When contacted, district Food Supplies Officer Subodh Mallick said the Mohana Block Supplies Officer has been asked to immediately conduct a probe and submit a report. After the report is received the truth can be ascertained.