Karnataka: Mandya district suspends three fair price stores over misuse of ration
Mysuru: The Mandya district administration has suspended three fair price shops at Nagamangala taluk in Mandya district for misusing free rations given by the government in view of the lockdown due to Covid-19.
Similar complaints have been received in Mysuru district too against not just fair price shop owners but even some private persons who are raising funds and essential commodities for the poor. A case has also been registered against a milk booth for selling free milk supplied by the government.
According to deputy director of the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Kumuda Sharath, complaints have been received from ration card holders against fair price shops that they were being extorted for supply of rations. Following an inspection, the admin suspended, under the Karnataka Essential Commodities Public Sistribution (Control) Order 2016, three fair prices in Mandya district. And they have strictly warned that licences will be cancelled if any such complaints are received from ration card holders.
In Mysuru too, deputy commissioner Abhiram G Shankar said the joint director of the department of food has received complaints of misuse by certain fair price shops in Hunsur and H D Kote taluks. Some fair shops are taking Rs 20-50 from ration card holders to supply essential foods. And though it has been clarified that even if there is an issue with the OTP, rations should not be withheld, dealers continue to do so at some places. During a meeting with the Mysuru district minister S T Somashekar, elected representatives of the district raised the issue. If there are any such complaints, the fair price shops will not just be suspended, but they will also book cases against owners of those shops under disaster management act, they were told.
And a few MLAs of Mysuru district have complained that private organizations are raising money or rice to be distributed to the poor but are keeping half the proceeds for themselves. If such complaints are received, criminal cases will be booked against such people, the minister said.
