Deccan Herald
Mangalore, Aug 6: The district administration is making all efforts to lift 3,000 metric tonnes of rice released to the Dakshina Kannada district under Sampoorna Grameena Rozgara Yojana’s special component on the pretext of using it in the district and will divert it to Davangere district on Aug 7, alleged SC/ST Federation president Lolaksha.
Addressing a press meet here on Saturday, Aug 5, he said the rice worth Rs 3.5 crore released by the Centre to undertake various flood relief measures will be diverted to Davangere district. On the contrary, the records will show that 600 metric tonnes of rice has been released to every taluk in the district.
Stating that 721 houses were damaged due to heavy rainfall and flood in the district, Lolaksha said the rice could have been utilised for undertaking various developmental works in the district under “Kooligagi Kaalu”. But the district administration is diverting the rice released to Dakshina Kannada district under relief measures by providing a ‘silly’ reason that there is no demand for the rice in the district.
Elaborating on the same, he said in a letter dated Jul 25 to the Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner by Revenue department official M S Desai stated that the rice released to the Dakshina Kannada district has been withdrawn and will be redistributed to the Davangere district. But in reality, the Dakshina Kannada DC is supposed to lift the rice from Food Corporation of India (FCI) godown and later redistribute to the Davangere district.
The FCI has raised objections to the proceedings of the Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner and Desai’s letter. FCI Deputy General Manager in a letter dated July 27 to DK Deputy Commissioner stated that the food grains lifted under the scheme must be utilised in the district only and can not be diverted it to other districts. Deputy Commissioner should sign for the utilisation certificate.
District-in-Charge Minister and MLA’s should resign, if they fail to check these irregularities in the district, he added.
Campaign against Child Labour-K (CACL-K) Convenor Renni D’Souza, PUCL Convenor P B D’Sa, among others was present.