Distribution of ration cards dominates Udupi ZP meeting

Distribution of ration cards dominates Udupi ZP meeting

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, August 28, 2019: Non-issuance of ration cards to poor beneficiaries dominated the general body meeting of the zilla panchayat (ZP) here on Tuesday.

 

Janardhan Tonse, member, said that ration cards had not been issued for the last six months. The poor beneficiaries had been visiting several offices to get them. The beneficiaries were venting their anger on the elected representatives, he said.

In charge officer of the Food and Civil Supplies Department said the department was suffering severe staff shortage. There were 4,771 applications for ration cards pending till March 2019, while 6,820 new applications had been filed by the beneficiaries. The matter was being handled by outsourced staff. The pending applications were being cleared slowly, while 708 temporary ration cards would be distributed immediately, he said.

Marali Pratap Hegde, member, said that if there was staff shortage, then more staff should be put into the department. Sindhu Rupesh, ZP CEO, said that staff allocation could be done only by the Revenue Department and the matter had been brought to the notice of the district administration.

S.S. Madhukeshwar, Assistant Commissioner, said that the delay in the processing of applications was due to change of government. The matter would be resolved by providing temporary ration cards to the beneficiaries, he said. Intervening, Sheela K. Shetty, ZP Vice-President, said temporary cards should be distributed by September 11.

Chandrika, member, said that she had raised the issue of garbage clearance in Hiriyadka in the last meeting. Srinivas Rao, Chief Planning Officer of ZP, directed the Executive Officer to take action in the matter.

M. Sudhakar Shetty, member, said that the fields of 67 people were affected due to floods near Baje village last year, but still compensation had not been given to them. Bhuvaneshwari, Joint Director of Horticulture, said that they would have to be compensated from the calamities fund.
Birth certificates

Jyoti Harish, member, said that many cashew factory workers did not have birth certificates, hence had become difficult for them to get Aadhaar cards. With the result, it was difficult for them to get Provident Fund facility, he said. It was decided to hold awareness camps for them.