PDS supplies siphoned off in Odisha panchayat

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Baripada, Feb 7:

Public Distribution System (PDS) supplies meant for BPL families are being looted by dealers on a large scale in Badabahalia panchayat of Mayurbhanj district in Odisha.

The panchayat is a predominantly tribal and BPL dominated area having more than 600 enlisted beneficiaries entitled to rice and kerosene at subsidized prices.

Large scale corruption in PDS system has been exposed by a recent RTI report indicating that over one fourth of the total supplies are getting siphoned off by the dealers themselves.

“The supply kerosene comes to the control shops. Sometimes we get out quota; sometimes we don’t,” said a beneficiary Purna Nayak.

“I had been to the PDS shop recently to purchase kerosene. I was told that the non-card holders are only given 1 litre of fuel each. However, I learnt that some of the beneficiaries like me have also received 2 while some others have received up to 3 litres. They supply as per their seet will and sell off the rest in the black market,” said Ward Member Koushalya Samal.

The same situation has been noticed in other panchayats of the area and a complaint has been lodged with the office of the collector.

“I have ordered an enquiry into the incident. Stringent action will be taken against the culprits after we receive the reports,” said Surath Chandra Mallick, Sub-Collector of Mayurbhanj.