THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Priority cards recovered by the government from the ineligible will be available to anyone with Rs 1,000 and a broker! The middlemen are some ration shop owners with an eye on fraud. If they are 'treated' properly, the share of it will reach the pocket of the Civil Supplies Officer. Then the procedures for getting the card will be done with lightning speed.
Priority card fraud are rampant in many parts of the state.
Since GR Anil became the Minister for Civil Supplies, 1.37 lakh cards have returned as a result of efforts to recover the priority cards of the ineligible. It is the policy of the government to give this to those who deserve it. Officers were deployed to find the deserving. It is the duty of the field officers to check the applications submitted for this and issue priority cards to those who are eligible. Some of them are taking advantage of the opportunities to make money out of it. Some ration shop owners will be intermediaries. Applicants for the priority card will be told that it will work out if they spend some money. Fees will also be stated. If the applicant agrees then the matter is expedited.
AAY cards (yellow) have already been issued to 11,230 people, including those with serious illnesses to receive medical benefits. The distribution of PH (Pink) cards will be inaugurated on the 29th. Some employees are taking advantage of the government's proud achievement.
Cards to be given to the deserving
Thiruvananthapuram - 10,770
Kollam- 9047
Pathanamthitta- 6125
Alappuzha- 8336
Kottayam- 6739
Idukki- 3646
Ernakulam- 13,854
Thrissur- 8643
Palakkad - 14,792
Malappuram- 29,643
Kozhikode - 11,958
Wayanad- 2747
Kannur - 7516
Kasargod-3553
Total ------------- 1,37,369
AAY (Yellow) - 11,055
PH (Pink) - 71,923
NPS (blue) - 54,391