Bhubaneswar: Irregularities in the NFSA beneficiary list is fast snowballing into a major controversy with the names of ineligible elected people’s representatives cropping up in this connection almost on an hourly basis.
In the latest such revelation, Baliguda MLA Rajiv Patra’s wife, Litangini’s name has surfaced in the ration card list of Block 1632. Rajiv Patra is a resident Nuasahi of Tumudibandha block under Mundiguda Panchayat.
“My wife had applied for a ration card based on the earlier eligibility criteria. However, we later withdrew the name. We have not received the ration card and I have no clue how her name is still in the list,” Patra told OTV.
In another such lapse, Gop Panchayat Samiti chairperson, Sabita Swain’s name has also surfaced in draft list of beneficiaries for ration cards.
Similarly, complaint has also been brought against Anandpur municipality chairperson, Saraswati Jena for allegedly receiving a ration card under NFSA.
Taking a serious view of the ration card fiasco in Cuttack in which Mayor’s name was found in the list, chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday suspended the then additional commissioner of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) Biswanath Sahu. In this connection, Behera, whose name was found in the beneficiary list compiled under National Food Security Act (NFSA), tendered her resignation both as mayor and corporator on Tuesday.
Enquiries have revealed that ration cards have also been issued against four corporators of Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC). Besides, Kendrapara NAC vice-chairman Jayanti Lenka and Bhadrakh Panchayat Samiti Chairman Chandrakanti Mallick also hold ration cards in their names.