The Hindu

Udupi, Feb 6: The issue of distribution of temporary ration cards to 18,750 families dominated the general body meeting of Udupi Zilla Panchayat here on Thursday.

Raising the issue, Madan Kumar, member, said that the distribution of ration cards to the poor at Nemmadi Kendras had not only turned out to be a mess but also a financial burden on them. People had to submit an affidavit and pay a fee for the processing of their applications. The Government was telling that temporary ration cards would be given at the kendras.

But the Government had directed the officers to conduct inspection of the recipients of these cards. Now, officers from Food and Civil Supplies Department were trying to help the secretaries of gram panchayats in conducting the inspection, Mr. Kumar said.

Raju Poojary, president of the zilla panchayat, said that not all the people had applied for temporary cards at the kendra.

Marthurkar Thipanna, deputy director of Food and Civil Supplies, said that the inspection was aimed at ascertaining the claims of the applicants.