The negligence on the part of district food and civil supply officer Shyam Arya has been causing difficulties for the needy in procuring ration cards for the last many months. Despite making several rounds of complaints against the department, needy persons have to return empty handed.
Though, the model code of conduct for lok Sabha election 2014 has been enforce since March 5, ration cards have not been issued by DSO Arya for the last many months. Arya said, “We did not issue ration cards for last many months because new ration cards will be issued under National Food Security Scheme to the intended beneficiaries after two or three months. Those persons not covered under the scheme will not be issued ration card.”
On the condition of anonymity, a Tehsildar said that ration card is being used as identification proof for the local residents, however, officials concerned often demanded ration card from the applicants before issuing Elector’s photo identity Card, income certificate, lPG connection and other documents. Sarita Bisht, a resident of Rajpur Road, who visited the DSO three times in two months for procuring ration card, said she was denied ration card by officials who stated that these were not being issued. She alleged that DSO issues ration card to those persons whose applications were approved by local politicians or government officers.
Raipur resident Puja said, “My application for income certificate was rejected by the official at Janadhar because I had not submitted ration card. Moreover, when I approached the local gas agency for procuring gas connection, I was denied this due to absence of ration card.”
Dalanwala resident Sumit Bisht said that he had visited food and civil supply office several times for procuring ration card in the last three months. A senior officer said that no guidelines directing districts not to issue ration card to the needy have been issued by the State Government. According to him, one can procure ration card from the food and civil supply office if they stay six months or more in the district concerned.