Chitrakonda/Malkangiri: The government has made provision for delivering rations under public distribution system (PDS) near people’s doorsteps and emphasised streamlining the system so that people do not face inconvenience.
But scores of beneficiaries in Dhuliput panchayat in Swabhiman Anchal of Malkangiri district have to trek 18 km from their village to get rations, a report said. Locals were sore over such inconvenience.
They alleged that though they had drawn the attention of the block administration to sort out the issue, no step is being taken to ease the PDS disbursal difficulties. They suffer from trekking to Hataguda in Janbai panchayat, 18 km from Dhuliput panchayat.
“To get 1 kg of rice for Re 1, we have to spend an average of Rs 5 per kg in terms of travel cost. For 35 kg of rice, one has to spend Rs 150,” locals said. They warned of agitation in the coming days if the rations are not delivered near them.
This panchayat, close to Andhra Pradesh border, comprises 25 villages with a population of over 4,000.
“The government has laid a road to our panchayat, but when it comes to rations, we have to depend on another panchayat,” villagers rued, demanding rations be delivered in their panchayat.
On the other hand, people of Dabuguda and Kadelguda in Potrel panchayat have decried lack of development.
“DRDA, ITDA and the block administration have been spending lakhs of rupees for various development works in other villages. However, no development works have started in Dabuguda and Kadelguda,” they said.
People of two villages met Collector Vishal Singh and apprised him of the need for road connectivity. ITDA has not started work of a culvert on the main road linking Dabuguda while the block administration is yet to work on a guard wall at Kadelguda.
PNN