ROURKELA: The Public Distribution System (PDS) here continues to be in disarray. Some unscrupulous women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have reportedly betrayed the State Government’s intentions to prevent leakages and arrest corruption. To check irregularities in the supply of essential commodities, the Government had devised a module to institutionalise supply of ration through Gram Panchayat retail centres. SHGs and co-operative centres came second and third respectively in its preference list with private retailers figuring at the end. However, one SHG was recently found selling kerosene at a higher price. Jan Kalyan Sanghathan (JKS) convenor Urmila Singh said the SHG outlet at Plant Site area here charged ` 43 for three litres of kerosene instead of ` 37.50.JKS president and former municipal chairman Narendra Tripathy blamed it on the absence of surveillance and dishonest local Civil Supplies officials. It is not a lone case. Another SHG at Nala Road area was found charging ` 80 against ` 77 for 11 kg of wheat, about a fortnight back. Reports said, there are around 2.24 lakh BPL, APL and Anotdaya beneficiaries entitled to rice, wheat, kerosene and sugar through 1,673 centres of which 184 are owned by SHGs in Sundargarh district.Besides tagging a higher price and tampering with the weights, the SHGs allegedly duped customers with leftover ration. Sundargarh-based Civil Supplies Officer SC Das said they had received complaints on numerous occasions and appropriate action has been taken against those found guilty, adding some of them are doing good work.
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