A sum of Rs 2 crore meant to be distributed as an assistance during the lockdown is lying unspent in the district.
The district administration is unsure of the beneficiaries as to whether they are ghost or dead or residing elsewhere who couldn’t collect cash.
Rs 1,000 assistance was given to the beneficiaries below poverty line covered under Food Security Act ( FSA) along with three months rations. However, as there is no trace of over 19,000 beneficiaries, the cash meant for them couldn’t be distributed.
Under the FSA while the number of ration card holders are about 5.17 lakh in the district, about 19.25 lakh people are covered under the scheme . About 4.94 lakh beneficiaries while are covered under NFSA , about 22,000 are covered under the State’s food security scheme.
During the Corona disaster, the district received about Rs 51.61 crore and till date about Rs 49.73 crore has been distributed. Reports said as per records, all the beneficiaries of Soro block have received the assistance of Rs 1,000. Across all other blocks except Soro, the amount is lying undistributed as there is no trace of about 5,000 beneficiaries till May end.
The highest number of missing beneficiaries are from Baleswar Municipality (953), followed by Bhograi block (945).
Civil Supply Officer Anadi Sethi besides stating that the unspent amount to be returned to the Government said as per the direction of the district Collector in each ward a three-member committee would be formed to ascertain the actual number of beneficiaries as to whether they are fake, residing elsewhere ordead.