Bhadrak PDS beneficiaries travel 18 km, spend Rs 100 to get 5kg rice

Resentment is brewing among the beneficiaries of Public Distribution System (PDS) at Sahapur under Tihidi block in Bhadrak district as they have to spend Rs 100 on travel expenses to avail rice weighing 5kg from another panchayat.

According to sources, PDS beneficiaries of Sahapur panchayat are facing a lot of difficulties to get rice at retail point of Harasinghpur panchayat. They used to get rice from their locality which is Sahapur. Now, they have to travel to Harasinghpur panchayat which is 18 kilometre away from their village to avail the rice from this month. 

Moreover, they have to spend Rs 100 to reach Harasinghpur to avail the rice. Their plight does not end here. Many beneficiaries had to return empty-handed due to heavy rush at the retail point.

Meanwhile, PDS beneficiaries at the Sahapur panchayat have been demanding the concerned authorities to provide rations at their locality. 

Admitting the problems being faced by the beneficiaries, the concerned retailer has decided to draw the attention of the Civil Supply officer in this connection.

However, the departmental officers are unavailable to make any comment on the issue.

An irate beneficiary, Sabitri Tarai, said, “Why we will have to go the extra mile to collect rice. Who will bear the travel expenses? Earlier, we used to get rice at home. Why our sarpanch has not been provided rations to distribute among us? The administration has to look into it.”

Pabitra Mohan, a retailer in Harasinghpur, said, "Earlier PO had to distribute rice to beneficiaries in their panchayat. I do not know what happened there. The district Sub-collector has recently asked me to provide rice to beneficiaries of Sahapur and Harasinghpur panchayat."