Muddling through ration cards, lakhs of rupees have been swindled in Koynar panchayat of Darbha block. Ration from the Mukhyamantri Khadyann scheme have been sold in open market by preparing more than one ration cards in one name.
After collecting the information through the Right to Information Act, a villager of Koynar, Deboram, along with all necessary evidences, had complained to the collector against the manager. In the complaint, he had alleged the deputy sarpanch of the village as fraud. Through fraud practices, lakhs of rupees have been swindled for months.
The food department has also agreed of getting such complaints. Soon the departmental team would reach the village and start an enquiry. Two months ago, a complaint of ration scam had been made with the sub divisional officer (revenue) of Tokapal. According to the complaint, large scale swindling of food grain, to be distributed under the public distribution system, had been done in Koynar panchayat, even before the implementation of the Food Security Act in the State.
Fifty-one villagers mentioned in the list have not been given ration cards, however, the ration in their names have been lifted. Besides, two each ration cards have been prepared in the names of 21 other villagers. In some ration cards father’s name of the beneficiaries is the same, but caste has been mentioned differently. According to the complainant, irregularities have been made in the preparation of ration cards.
Food controller Vishwanath Netam said that earlier also he had received complaints in this regard and for that food inspector Vikas Chandrakar has been given responsibility. On getting the report action would be taken. However, food inspector Chandrakar said that investigation could not be done due to model code of conduct and Assembly election.