Gariyaband: The Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) has been accused of registering a management committee for 12 government fair price shops in the Devbhog block, stating that the previous legal procedures were not adhered to. This has caused controversy among many stakeholders in the community.
These fair-price shops include Shuklibhatha Old, Shuklibhatha New, Barkani, Kodkipara, Kadalimuda, Bhatrabahali, Usripani, Puranapani, Sargiguda, Moongiya, Ghumarguda and Barbahali. The selection of the management committee was the duty of the Devbhog SDM.
However some hearsay pointed out that the SDM has not followed the procedures for the entire appointment process, such as the threats of rising dissent among the local people and stakeholders.
The official appointments were advertised through a public notice issued in the Devbhog SDM office on September 4, 2024, copies of which were to be placed in the daily newspapers as well as made in the relevant panchayats. However, this announcement was only made through official government social media groups.
Still, 28 groups applied to manage the 12 shops. On 4 October, the SDM issued a selection list of the management committees and handed over letters of extension to the Farmers’ Cooperative Society to assume charge. That said, the grounds for the exclusion of some groups were unclear, there was no claims and objections stage leading up to the decision.
Also, the convention required consultation with the officers from the food department because their views and recommendations are much important when making such appointments, and this, too, seems to have been done away with. Also, the SDM did not update the Collector’s Food Branch before shifting the shops to the agency tasked to take them over.
Taking advantage of the new appointment order, several villagers of Puranapani collected the signatures of the ration cardholders. They presented a memorandum to SDM Tulsi Das, pleading not to replace the current management agency. Local leaders were able to speak about their concerns, including Maniram Nidhi, Siddharth Nidhi, and Sakharam Yadav, who said they had been given enough information about the application early.
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