Ranchi: Economist Jean Dreze and two other activists of an NGO, NSK Manika, on Tuesday urged Latehar deputy commissioner Zeishan Qamar to act against five PDS dealers in the district for alleged embezzlement of ration meant for advance distribution for May by April end.
State finance minister Rameshwar Oraon, who also holds the food and civil supplies portfolio, assured action against the dealers after a thorough inquiry. The activists had marked a copy of their letter to Oraon.
While Qamar was unavailable for a response, Oraon told TOI, “I am yet to get a copy of the letter. Once I get it, a thorough enquiry will be conducted, and stern action will be taken against the guilty.” Oraon said till May 3, cases were lodged against 52 dealers across the state for forgery while 100 were suspended. “Investigations are underway against 300 dealers,” he said.
Dreze, NSK Manika coordinator James Herenj and NSK Manika functionary Pachathi Singh in a letter to the DC demanded cancellation of licenses of the five PDS, saying stealing ration in this difficult time was intolerable.
Dreze named PDS dealers, Binu Lohra of Semri village under Kope Panchayat and Sakender Singh of Pagar village under Donki panchayat limits, for the embezzlement. He claimed that the two did not distribute advance ration for May among beneficiaries registered with their shops. The state government had announced distribution of advance ration to card holders to ensure availability of foodgrains during the lockdown. Under the advance distribution scheme, ration for March and April is distributed in March and the quota meant for May in April.
The letter also claimed of having incriminating evidences against Binod Yadav of Matnag village for not giving beneficiaries their full quota of grains and Lakshmi Mahila Swayam Sahayata Samuh in Palleya panchayat for taking cuts from beneficiaries of Kurund village, asking money for linking their ration cards with Adhaar numbers and overpricing of subsidised kerosene.
Krishna Yadav of Bishwal Mahila Swayam Sahayata Samuh in Janho village also did not distribute advance ration for May to particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG) families living in Pananwa. “We requested Krishna for distribution of the ration by the end of April, but he did not,” the letter claimed.
State finance minister Rameshwar Oraon, who also holds the food and civil supplies portfolio, assured action against the dealers after a thorough inquiry. The activists had marked a copy of their letter to Oraon.
While Qamar was unavailable for a response, Oraon told TOI, “I am yet to get a copy of the letter. Once I get it, a thorough enquiry will be conducted, and stern action will be taken against the guilty.” Oraon said till May 3, cases were lodged against 52 dealers across the state for forgery while 100 were suspended. “Investigations are underway against 300 dealers,” he said.
Dreze, NSK Manika coordinator James Herenj and NSK Manika functionary Pachathi Singh in a letter to the DC demanded cancellation of licenses of the five PDS, saying stealing ration in this difficult time was intolerable.
Dreze named PDS dealers, Binu Lohra of Semri village under Kope Panchayat and Sakender Singh of Pagar village under Donki panchayat limits, for the embezzlement. He claimed that the two did not distribute advance ration for May among beneficiaries registered with their shops. The state government had announced distribution of advance ration to card holders to ensure availability of foodgrains during the lockdown. Under the advance distribution scheme, ration for March and April is distributed in March and the quota meant for May in April.
The letter also claimed of having incriminating evidences against Binod Yadav of Matnag village for not giving beneficiaries their full quota of grains and Lakshmi Mahila Swayam Sahayata Samuh in Palleya panchayat for taking cuts from beneficiaries of Kurund village, asking money for linking their ration cards with Adhaar numbers and overpricing of subsidised kerosene.
Krishna Yadav of Bishwal Mahila Swayam Sahayata Samuh in Janho village also did not distribute advance ration for May to particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG) families living in Pananwa. “We requested Krishna for distribution of the ration by the end of April, but he did not,” the letter claimed.
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