Names of more people’s representatives found in NFSA list

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, the name of Baliguda MLA Rajiv Patra’s wife Litangini has surfaced in the ration card list of Block 1,632. Rajiv Patra is a resident of Nuasahi of Tumudibandha block under Mundiguda Panchayat of Kandhamal district.

“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 incident, Purushottampur NAC vice-chairperson Raghav Prasad Patnaik’s wife Rajeshwari Patnaik has also been issued a ration card under NFSA

In Ganjam district, the list of dubious NFSA beneficiaries is getting bigger with ration cards issued in the names of Khallikote NAC chairperson Jyotsnarani Nahak and Digapahandi NAC chairperson Sunita Sethi. Similar allegation has been levelled against the Aska NAC chairperson

Meanwhile, the district Congress has lodged a complaint against Digapahandi block chairperson Shailabala Pradhan for availing a ration card.

Similarly, chairperson of Gop Panchayat Samiti in Puri district Sabita Swain’s name has also surfaced in the draft list of beneficiaries for ration cards.

A complaint has also been lodged against Anandpur municipality chairperson Saraswati Jena for allegedly receiving a ration card under NFSA.

The name of Kunti Singh, wife of Keonjhar Zilla Parishad vice-chairperson Jagannath Swain, is also found in the beneficiaries’ list under the NFSA. Notably, Kunti was earlier block chairperson.

Similar allegation has also been levelled against chairperson of Khaira block in Balasore district Jayanti Mahala.

Besides, Kendrapara NAC vice-chairman Jayanti Lenka and Bhadrakh Panchayat Samiti Chairman Chandrakanti Mallick also hold ration cards in their names.