ATTA-DAL SCHEME - Food inspectors say no to distribution work

Wednesday, 15/07/2015

http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Tribune/

Muktsar : The state government’s flagship Atta-Dal Scheme, which has been lying suspended for nearly eight months, may remain suspended for some more time as food supply inspectors across the state have boycotted the distribution work allotted to them and are in protest mode.

As a result, the Atta-Dal scheme beneficiaries in state will have to wait longer to get subsidised wheat and pulses.

The Punjab Food Supply Inspectors’ Union has even lodged protests in all tehsils. Now, it has given a call to lodge protest tomorrow at all divisional offices.

They have warned the state government that if it did not roll back the decision regarding the work of distribution of wheat, pulses assigned to them, they would intensify their stir.

Kuljinder Singh, district president, Food Supply Inspectors’ Union, Muktsar district, said, “The state government has directed us to distribute wheat, pulses among the beneficiaries every Saturday and Sunday.

“This work was earlier being done by the ration depot holders. It is not possible for food supply inspectors to do this work in addition to other duties. Besides, neither any allowance nor transportation charges have to be given to us.

“In the other 19 states which have implemented the National Food Security Act, nowhere are food supply inspectors doing this job. There are nearly 28,000 ration depots in the state and about 1,400 food supply inspectors. We can’t do this tedious task in addition to our normal work,” added Kuljinder Singh.

Similarly, Harmandeep Singh, state president, Food Supply Inspectors’ Union, said, “We are opposing the state government’s decision of assigning the work of distribution of wheat and pulses to us. We have already been lodging protests and will announce the future course of action on Saturday.

“Earlier, on request of senior officers, some food supply inspectors had started the distribution, but they too have now stopped.”

Shivdular Singh Dhillon, Director, Food and Civil Supplies Department, refused from comment, saying, “I have come to Amritsar to perform duty in a government function.”

Simarjot Kaur, Deputy Director, Food and Civil Supplies Department, said, “I am not authorised to give any statement in this regard.”