To
Shri Naveen
Patnaik Date-
19.5.20
Chief Minister
Govt. of Odisha
Bhubaneswar
Sub- Seeking
inquiry into huge
irregularities and
black-marketing of Kerosene and Dal
in different districts and Direction
for proper and transparent procedure to be followed in respect of
distribution of Rice, Dal and Kerosene by Panchayat and dealers in the
state.
Respected Sir
We, the RTI Activists and Members
of Odisha Soochana Adhikar
Abhijan draw your
kind attention on the following
issues relating to
corruption , hoarding and
black-marketing of PDS
items distributed under
NFSA and Pradhan Mantri Garibi Kalyan
Anna Yojana ( PMGKAY) among the beneficiaries across the
state.
1. That,
in view of COVID-19 lockdown in the
country, the Central Government announced
a series of Corona packages for
the poor
under Pradhan Mantri Garibi
Kalyan Yojana . One of the most important Packages for the millions of the poor people
is provision of 5 kg
free rice per head
per month for three months , one kg Dal
per family per
month for three months ( April to
June) for all NFSA beneficiaries free of
cost, Rs. 1000.00 for all Old Age, Widow and Disable pension
holders. On 30th March, 20,
the Central Government issued
letter to all State
Govt. to lift allocated
quantity of Rice and Dal
for distribution among the beneficiaries free of cost without
delay. On 11.4.20, the Secretary, Department of Food Supply and Consumer Welfare, Govt. of Odisha issued letter
to all the Collectors directing
to immediately lift rice
from FCI godown and Dal from
NAFED Godown for distribution of 3 months ration to all 92 lakh NFSA card holders ( 3.26 crore people ) and complete distribution by 28th of May.
2. But it is very
disheartening to note here that
though more than one month has passed, Dal has
not yet been
distributed in thousands of
Panchayats in the state. It is reported that in many
places, only one kg of Dal
is provided to the beneficiaries. It is also learnt from different sources that
there is huge hoarding
of Dal by the dealers / retailors in the
state.
3. Similarly,
the three months free rice
provided by Central Govt. under Pradhan Mantri Garibi Kalyan
Yojana has not yet been supplied
in many Gram Panchayat,
though rice has been
lifted from FCI Godown.
It is assumed that
the Govt. officers and
Transport Agents might have
black-marketed this rice
without distributing to the Ration Card holders.
4. Similarly, the
State Government has issued
instruction for distribution of 6 lites
of kerosene for 3 months
to all Ration card holders
at the rate of Rs. 14.72 per
litres. But the Dealers
are seen distributing
5 litres of kerosene against
allocation of 6 litres and collecting exorbitant
price ranging from Rs. 30.00 to Rs. 54.00 per litres from the poor Ration Card holders in different districts. This
is no doubt a big loot
of the poor people even
during disaster period.
It is reported that
the District Civil Supply
Officers, Marketing Inspectors, Wholesalers and dealers
are hand in glove to loot
the people by
illegally demanding such
huge price. It is estimated a loot of Rs. 1000 crore from the poor ration card holders by the dealers and Govt. officials. Despite
several complaints being filed
to district Collectors and FIRs lodged
in different police stations
by the RTI Activists and
beneficiaries, no action has been
taken against the dealers and the officials involved
in this scam.
5. So,
keeping in view magnitude of this scam, we
make the following
demands for effective
and transparent distribution of all PDS items
among the people
in the state.
·
Constitute
an High-level inquiry into
allegation of exorbitant price
of kerosene demanded by the
retailors across the state
and take stringent action against them and other
officials involved in this scam.
·
Constitute
an High-level inquiry into
allegation of non-distribution of Dal to
the beneficiaries in thousands of Gram Panchauyats.
·
Direct
all District Civil supply
officers to return the money
to the beneficiaries from
whom excess price
of kerosene against
fixed price was collected.
·
Direct to
exhibit ( public display) in front of Retailors’ shop the
price of PDS items, stock Register, Distribution Register, Tally
Register and grievance Register for
maintaining transparency ( part
of 5T Sarkar ) in distribution of items to the beneficiaries.
·
Ensure a
robust system of grievance redressal
mechanism for addressing grievance of the people
immediately.
Thanking you
Yours sincerely
Pradip Pradhan
State Convener
M-9937843482
Sanjukta Panigrahi, Member, M-9337903294
Srikant Pakal, Member, M- 9830440742
Sarbeswar Behura, Member, M-94374
Jitendra Sahu, Member , M- 9861431109
Annextures- A. news Clippings
B. FIRs filed in Police stations by RTI Activists and
beneficiaries
Copy to
A.
Chief Secretary, Govt. of Odisha
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