Shahdol villagers allege thumbprints taken for salt, but no ration given

Irregularities in ration distribution have been alleged in Duladar gram panchayat of Gohparu block in Shahdol district. Villagers say they were made to give thumbprints on a biometric machine at the fair price shop in the name of being given salt, but received no grain. Even so, government records are showing June's ration as distributed in their names.

Saroj Yadav, member from Area No. 09 of the Janpad Panchayat Gohparu, has complained about the matter to the District Food Officer. On Friday she complained again and demanded an inspection of the POS machine records.

According to the complaint, the fair price shop operator, Priya Singh, had called the villagers to collect salt. Their thumbprints were taken on the machine at that time. It is alleged that slips for the June ration distribution were generated, but the beneficiaries were neither given a slip nor any grain.

The complaint also says that when some villagers objected to not receiving ration, they were given grain. The remaining poor and tribal families returned empty-handed.

Yadav has claimed that hundreds of poor families were left without ration. The villagers have demanded an inquiry that matches the POS machine records, the stock register and the statements of beneficiaries. They have also demanded action against those found guilty.