PUDUCHERRY: The three BJP activists recently nominated to the territorial assembly by the Union home ministry along with party functionaries today gave up freebies provided under the Public distribution system.
V Saminathan, Party treasurer K G Shankar and S Selvaganapathy, the three MLAs as well as party functionaries called on the Director of Civil supplies department Priyatarshny and handed over their letters attaching the photo copies of their ration cards, while retaining the original.
This move is reportedly a part of the BJP government introducing several reforms for the BPL people, including entitling them for the government’s freebies and not providing a ration card to those people whose income is over Rs one lakh.
Saminathan said that everyone in the party is having a family income of over Rs 1 lakh as well as the Income tax assesses would be surrendering the benefits under PDS. He said that already the poor are not getting the benefits due to a paucity of funds to provide the benefits to all ration card holders. Free rice, old age pension, housing are some of the schemes which are not getting implemented. Several people including the rich are holding ration cards and are drawing benefits, he said.
Moreover, there are bogus red ration cards. Though the ration card is an essential document required for various purposes and cannot be given up, yet those earning well can give up these benefits meant for the poor. The BJP will take up a sustained campaign to make people give up freebies under PDS.
The Chief Minister V Narayanasamy in his budget speech has announced to provide the honarary Green ration cards to people with higher income once they surrender their ration cards.
The Lieutenant governor also recently reiterated that the Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs should issue a formal government order for distribution of green ration cards (Honorary Family Card) as decided by the cabinet to those who voluntarily give up their entitlements under Public Distribution System.