MARGAO: In a startling revelation, it has come to light that a large section of ration cardholders, who were once totally dependent on the rice distributed to them at the fair price shops have stopped consuming it but instead are now forced to feed their dogs and cats.
However, several cardholders, who cannot afford to buy quality rice from the market, are forced to clean the maggot-infested rice and consume it.
O Heraldo contacted a woman at Manora-Raia, carrying a few kg of rice distributed at the nearest fair price shop and when questioned she clearly stated that the rice is for feeding her dogs.
“This few kg of rice will be enough for me to feed my pets for one month, as my family members have stopped consuming the same since we found maggots in it,” she said.
Expressing frustration over the issue, Reswald Carneiro, another citizen, asked the government to distribute clean rice to the people in near future.
“Yes, maggot-infested rice is found in recent days, but with no other option, many are forced to clean it before consumption. It is not fair on the part of the authorities concerned to supply rice without checking it,” he stated.
A woman lady from Benaulim told O Heraldo that she has stopped taking rice from the fair price shops since the same was filled with maggots.
“Yes, my family members used to totally depend on the rice from a fair price shop, but in the last two-three months, we stopped consuming it. On noticing maggots in the rice, now we don’t want to take any risk,” she said.
There are several others, who have stopped collecting their quota of rice from the fair price shops due to the maggot-infested rice.
