Visakhapatnam: The state government has been distributing Chandranna Christmas, Sankranti and Ramzan Kanukalu to the economically backward a few days before the respective festivals.
This Pongal, it’s distributing a kit worth '208 to each ration cardholder in the state.
The kit includes grocery items – red gram, jaggery, wheat flour, ghee and palm oil packets. The government has allocated '315 crore to supply these items to the beneficiaries across the state.
However, several irregularities are witnessed in the distribution of these items to the beneficiaries. Complaints are being aired that officials are overlooking the corrupt activities of ration depot dealers, who are accused of diverting stocks.
According to Vizag-based RTI activists, over 10 per cent of the total — kits worth '27.44 crore — have been diverted in Vizag by some influential persons. All persons involved in this corruption can be punished under National Food Security Act (NFSA).
Activists allege that TD leaders are insisting the beneficiaries to attend Janmabhoomi-Maa Vooru programmes to receive these kits as they want to gain political mileage. Even government officials are supporting them.
Ration depot dealers have warned the beneficiaries of cancelling the issue of Chandranna Kanukalu, if they don’t adhere to the demands.
Instead of providing the kits at fair price shops, they are troubling the poor people to attend JBMV for the entire day, leaving their work.
Public Forum state coordinator K. Venkata Ramana alleged, “There is notable difference in the quantity of items distributed to the beneficiaries. While the ghee packets are 10 ml less in volume, palm oil packets are 60-80 ml lesser than the actual kit.”
Though he complained to district civil supplies department about the irregularities, there was no action. Mr Ramana demanded state civil supplies commissioner B. Rajasekhar to take action on the ration depot dealers involved in the diversion of the kit items.
