Kota: A big scandal of fraud, which relates to 800 quintals of the government ration measuring ₹50 lakhs, has been reported in the district. In a survey, it was observed that rice meant for the PDS was being sold in other markets through the black market. Consequently, the SDM of Kota has frozen the given committees of Konchra, Sonpuri, Aamamuda, and Karra, and a formal investigation is being conducted at the moment.
The probe also revealed that the managers and sellers of the PDS shops in Konchra, Sonpuri, Aamamuda, and the Karra Society not only caused a huge amount of loss to the government’s exchequer but the poor citizens were also deprived of their due ration. After many complaints, a physical audit of these societies was carried out, which revealed the above irregularities.
In the case of Konchra Society, there is a shortage of 317.24 quintals of rice, 8.24 quintals of sugar, and 2.72 quintals of salt were seized. Likewise, in the Sonpuri Society, there was a deficit of 200.85 quintals of rice, 3.77 quintals of sugar, and 5.06 quintals of gram. The Aamamuda Society lacked 177, which has been put into a more understandable term as shown below; it was indicated that the Aamamuda Society was short of 177.72 quintals of rice, 5.4 quintals of sugar, and 7.50 quintals of gram while Anand Mahila group of Karra had had short of 91.90 quintals of rice and 0.65 quintals of sugar.
After noticing such differences, notices were served to the operators of such shops, to which no positive response was given. As a result, the authorities have rightly opted for suspension of such committees involved in the act. An FIR will also be lodged so that a police case can be filed against the guilty of the fraud.
This episode shows the arbitrariness and sociopolitical decay at the PDSs following the implementation of the BRI and the voucher system and how the poor are denied basic necessities that are rightfully due to them under assistance programs. Further investigations are ongoing.
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