Dimapur, Feb 12 : Duplication of BPL ration cards and alleged “political” recommendations in issuing ration cards have cast doubts on whether the BPL families in Nagaland are actually receiving their due share even as according to a national survey, more than 40% of Nagaland’s nearly 20 lakh population live the Below Poverty Line (BPL).
Following complaints of duplication of BPL cards and other anomalies, the Dimapur district administration and Supply department undertook an exercise for verification of all BPL card holders in Dimapur in the latter part of 2008, and canceled more than 450 BPL cards, which were later reissued to genuine beneficiaries. This is perhaps the first exercise among all districts in the state in the past eight-nine years.
Ration card holders in Nagaland (2005)
BPL - 0.77 lakh
APL - 1.83 lakh
AAY - 0.47 lakh
Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur Maong Aier said maximum duplication of BPL cards was detected in Dimapur I and II sadars. “In some cases, we detected that some families were holding two to three BPL cards, which is against the norm of one card per family. All these were cancelled and issued to genuine beneficiaries,” he said.
On allegations that the officials were often hard pressed due to pressure from politicians to issue ration cards to their supporters, the DC admitted that there could be instances of MLAs or ministers recommending names. He however clarified that there was no BPL quota for any political party as such.
Following complaints of duplication of BPL cards and other anomalies, the Dimapur district administration and Supply department undertook an exercise for verification of all BPL card holders in Dimapur in the latter part of 2008, and canceled more than 450 BPL cards, which were later reissued to genuine beneficiaries. This is perhaps the first exercise among all districts in the state in the past eight-nine years.
Ration card holders in Nagaland (2005)
BPL - 0.77 lakh
APL - 1.83 lakh
AAY - 0.47 lakh
Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur Maong Aier said maximum duplication of BPL cards was detected in Dimapur I and II sadars. “In some cases, we detected that some families were holding two to three BPL cards, which is against the norm of one card per family. All these were cancelled and issued to genuine beneficiaries,” he said.
On allegations that the officials were often hard pressed due to pressure from politicians to issue ration cards to their supporters, the DC admitted that there could be instances of MLAs or ministers recommending names. He however clarified that there was no BPL quota for any political party as such.
As per the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) introduced by the Union Government in 1997, the first phase identification of BPL families in Nagaland was done by respective district rural development agency (DRDA) in 1997. Later, in 2001, the state received additional allocation of BPL cards and these cards were issued basing on the recommendation of village authorities. Since 2001, there are about 77,000 BPL card holders in the State with Dimapur district getting the highest share (11,838).
The number of BPL card holders in other districts are Kohima (8505), Peren (2899), Phek (8174), Wokha (7643), Zunheboto (8287), Kiphire (6132), Tuensang (3520), Longleng (2058), Mokokchung (995) and Mon (7249).
However, the number of BPL cards is not adequate as per a central report (2005), Nagaland has 1.24 lakh BPL households. An official of the Food & Civil Supply department said the state had already requested the Centre to allocate additional ration cards for the state. In Dimapur, under the BPL scheme, a card holder is entitled to 28 kg rice and 6 ½ kg atta (flour) at subsidized rate of Rs. 6.15 and Rs.6.50 per kilo respectively. The corresponding rate in the open market is approximately Rs. 16 each for both rice and flour.
An official of the Supply department said the department is constantly monitoring the public distribution system in all fifty functional fair rice shops in Dimapur. “We go for inspection every month to ensure that the beneficiaries get their due share,” he added.
Morung Express News