Organisations demand immediate halt to distribution of ration cards in Ri Bhoi
NONGPOH: The KSU North Khasi Hills District Unit and Hynniewtrep National Youth Front Northern Region have jointly expressed their strong opposition and have also met the Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner to register their discontentment against the anomalies in enrolment of beneficiaries in the BPL list.
The Community and Rural Development department under National Food Security Act conducted the Socio Economic Census in 2011 in Ri Bhoi to identify the people living below the poverty line. However, the selection of the beneficiaries as per the Census was strongly opposed by KSU and HNYF based on the allegation that tribal people had been deprived and most of the beneficiaries enrolled were from the non tribal communities.
It may be recalled that KSU and HNYF members had, last Friday, disrupted the distribution of BPL ration cards at Nongpoh Community Hall by the Ri Bhoi Food and Civil Supply department. A delegation of KSU and HNYF members met the Ro Bhoi Deputy Commissioner on Monday and raised their demand for immediate cancellation of the distribution of ration cards to the beneficiaries until the matter was sorted out.
KSU NKHD president, F.K. Kharkamni, said they were not against enrolment of genuine non-tribals as BPL beneficiaries, but were opposed to the fact that 80 per cent of the beneficiaries were non-tribals who are only temporary residents of the district.
He also stated that even the local headmen have voiced their concern over the enrolment of such a large number of non-tribals in the BPL list.
He also pointed out that the survey was conducted without the verification of local headmen and it was easy for the non-tribal residents to enjoy the benefit despite being temporary residents while the deserving tribal people were blacklisted.
The Dorbar ki Rangbah Shnong Ri Bhoi District has extended its support to the KSU and HNYF and also appealed the headmen of the district not to accept the data as per the 2011 Census.
Meanwhile, replying to queries made by this scribe, Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Pooja Pandey said selection of the beneficiaries was done as per the criteria of the Socio Economic Census 2011 under the National Food Security Act. However, if there is any problem with regards to the selection of the beneficiaries, the organizations should lodge proper complaints so that the matter can be solved amicably as per the criteria of the Census.