PONDA: Shocked at the pilferage and hoarding of rice grains meant for the poor, the people of Ponda have demanded an in-depth probe into the rice scam, to identify the officials involved, and terminate their services as punishment. They have also called for the authorities to cancel the licences of the fair price shop owners found stealing and smuggling grains to other States.
Ponda-based social worker Viraj Sapre said that the Point-of-Sale (POS) machines at the fair price shops need to be investigated to prevent pilferage.
“The common man is forced to wait in line and waste their time at the ration shops as they are allowed to pick up their rations only after submitting their fingerprints on the POS machines, for accounting purposes. In such a restricted distribution system, how are such scams still rampant?” questioned Sapre.
To unearth such scams, locals said that their ration cards should be physically verified with the POS account, to inform them about the amount of unsold stock as many people do not buy their entire quota every month.
“Instead of giving criminals the scope to scam the system, the government needs to ensure that every poor family gets enough food grains, and nobody goes hungry,” said Vishal Naik, a resident of Ponda.
Naik explained that above poverty line (APL) cardholders only get 12kg rice per family every month at the rate of Rs 12.50 per kg, while low-income group ration card holders including priority card holders get several times the quantity of rice that they need, at Rs 3 per kg, which some people sell as they do not need it. APL card holders suggest that the government allows them to buy at least 20 kgs of rice every month, to prevent scams.
