State-wide Mass Rally and Dharana on Ration Card Issue in Odisha

Civil Society Groups to hold Mass Rally, Dharana and Demonstration throughout the State on 10^th Feb.14 demanding immediate supply of Ration Card to the Poor and deserving beneficiaries under National Food Security Act.

 Dear friends 

All of you are aware that National Food Security Act has been enacted to ensure food security of the poor. Though the  Govt.  of Odisha  has started implementing  the law after delay of around one and half year, thousands of poor and deserving people have been left out in the list of Priority Household  due to huge corruption and irregularities  in the survey  conducted  by the State  Govt. to identify the beneficiaries.  After  huge protest by the different political parties  and Civil Society Groups,  the State Govt. through advertisement made an appeal to the people to apply again to get  their names enlisted in Ration Card. Though 3 months have passed since submission of application for Rational  Card for second time,  the State Govt.   has not  been able to provide ration card. State Food Commission constituted to hear the grievances of the people have remained defunct. Thousands of Complaints in respect of Ration Card filed by the poor people  is pending with the Commission. It is interesting to note that without ensuring Ration Card, the State Govt. is trying hard to push   Ahara Yojana  to provide cooked rice ad dal @ Rs.5/- per head at district headquarter. It is designed to dilute the attention of the people from Ration Card issue.

As the State is reeling under drought due to crop loss, most of the poor people  are facing serious food crisis. Many of them have migrated to outside state in search of livelihood.  The availability of food grains under Rational Card is o doubt a great hope for them to survive. But denial of Ration Card by the Govt. has added to their woes pushing them to starving situation.  

  Keeping it in view, a number of Civil Society Organisations ( Right to Food Campaign, Odisha, Odisha Shramajib Mach, Jibika Surakhya Manch, Kondhamal, Samajik Samata Abhijan, Jajpur,  Odisha Pesion Parishad, Gajam Jagarana Manch, Pragatishila Mahila Sangh, Shramajibi Sangh, Malkangiri, Proutist Universal, Bharatiya Kishan Sangathan,  Open Hand Orgaisation, Lok Bikash Manch, Koraput) working on food security issues  have joined  hand together and decided to hold Dharana and demonstration on 10^th Feb.16 in every district and block head quarter  demanding   immediate supply of Ration Card to the poor people.

An open appeal is made to the people of Odisha to provide support  to make it grand success.

Yours sincerely

Pradip Pradhan

Arun Dehuri

Sudarshan Chhotaray

Naresh Jena, Advocate

Sanjukta Paigrahi

Sachikant Pradhan

Sanjay Sahu

Sudhir Mohanty, Advocate

Panchanan Pradhan

Kalandi Mallik

Karunakar Bhoi, Bolangir

Jati Pradhan, Bolangir

Kedar Sahu, Boudh