Komna: The Centre launched the National Food Security Act (NFSA) to ensure enough food to people at affordable prices. However, the needy, poverty-stricken and helpless people seem to have been denied the benefits at the beneficiary selection level owing to an indifferent attitude of officials concerned.
Only two out of 200 families of Majhipada and Latakanpada villages in Kasipala panchayat under this block in Nuapada district have got ration cards, a report said.
This has not only dashed the efforts of the government but forced the locals to work as migrant labourers in neighbouring states, it was learnt.
Over 200 tribal families reside in Kasipali village, 20 km away from Komna. Earlier, the tribals availed 25-35 kg of rice every month. They depended on forest produce and did odd jobs for a living.
However, things took an ugly turn after their names were struck off the ration card list for no reason three years back.
Only two families avail the benefits while the remaining have been running from pillar to post to get themselves enlisted. “No officials has heard our plight,” the tribals said.
In example is the family of Duryan Majhi (65) comprises his wife Radha (60), son Gopinath (22), daughters Chedi (20) and Sandhar (18). An acre of dry land was his only source of income. Left with no option, the elderly couple was forced to send their children to work as migrant labourers. Their son works in Mumbai and daughters work in Tirupathi as labourers.
The couple now survives with whatever the three children send them and have to sleep empty stomach at times. Such is the fate of many families in the village. The tribals pleaded with the administration to provide them ration cards. PNN