Whereas both the State and Central Government are now pinning hopes on the much talked about food security scheme that was launched on Tuesday to sail through the crucial 2014 general elections, former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Maj Gen (retd) BC Khanduri has described the said food security law as a pie in the sky, launching a scathing attack on the present State Government for its failure on all fronts.
Uttarakhand has already a scheme under the Atal Khadyann yojana which provides 35 kg food grains to the Antoday cardholders and accordingly to the BPl/ APl card holders at subsidised rates. That is why the much talked about food security scheme is nothing but a ‘drama’ of the Government, said Khanduri while talking to The Pioneer, during his Kumaon visit here on Tuesday. Now only time will tell how far the State Government which has failed on all fronts, succeeds to implement this food security scheme in the state, he further said accusing the State Government of failure to mitigate the hardships of the disaster victims across the State.
The former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand who began his visit of the disaster hit areas of the Kumaon divison from here on Tuesday morning, however, expressed his concern over poor condition of the disaster victims across the region.
He alleged that the State Government has badly failed to mitigate the hardships of the common citizens particularly the victims of the natural disaster across the State. look at the condition of roads. The fact is that unless there is proper road connectivity, how can we extend the relief operations in disaster hit hilly and remote areas, Khanduri wondered.
Meanwhile, when his attention was drawn to the question if he is concerned about misuse of the fund allocated for disaster management in the State, Khanduri said where is the question of misuse of fund meant for disaster management when there has been so far no use of fund by this State Government. The Basic services are badly hit in the natural calamity hit areas.
There is no food grain and no kerosene oil in remote and hilly areas and other basic amenities in these affected areas. People are badly affected even after so many days of the natural calamity. Therefore, we strongly criticise this State Government for is failure in reaching out to the people in the disaster hit areas, he said, expressing his disappoint. That is why in a bid to get the first hand experience of the difficulties being faced by the people on the ground and what can be done to address their concerns, I am on the Kumaon visit, Khanduri maintains.