THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Attempts to halt ration distribution and muster priority cards also failed as the server went down. Thousands, including women and the elderly, returned disappointed after waiting for hours. If the mustering is not completed within two weeks, the centre will stop the ration allocation in April. The government will be on the defensive during the election.
The government had decided to stop the distribution of ration on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and complete mustering for yellow and pink card holders. However, it is almost certain that it will not happen. The server of the State IT Mission was the villain today.
The center had proposed for mustering six months ago but the food department started the process only earlier this month. All other states have almost completed mustering. Every state must complete the mustering by the 31st of the fiscal year-end.
Mustering started at 8 am today. Camps were set up in community halls etc apart from ration shops for this purpose. There was a long queue here from early morning. A total of 28,390 cards were mustered in 14,177 ration shops in the first two and a half hours. An average of two cards per store. With this, those who were waiting in the sun protested. Elderly people started fainting. There was also an attempt to attack the ration traders.
As the protests intensified, two high-level meetings were held under the chairmanship of Food Minister GR Anil. A joint inspection by the IT Mission, IT Department, Food Department and NIC found the fault in the server. Mustering was restricted to yellow cardholders to avoid overload. The minister claimed that the mustering of 18,53,970 cards has been completed till today evening. More than 45 lakh card holders are yet to muster.
No one will lose ration due to delay in mustering. Don't believe such propaganda
- GR Anil, Food Minister
The delay in starting the mustering is the government's failure. People are blaming the ration traders
-Johnson Vilavinal,
Vice President, Retail Ration Dealers Association
Tomorrow and the next day only for yellow cards
Mustering is only for yellow cards tomorrow and the day after. Mustering day for pink card holders will be fixed the day after. However, Minister GR Anil suggested giving a chance to pink card holders who come tomorrow without knowing the information.
Mustering for priority cards