Avoid diversion of benefits, Kandula tells officials

Markapur (Prakasam): Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA Kandula Narayana Reddy on Tuesday asked the officials to take appropriate measures for avoiding diversion of benefits intended to the poor under the newly launched Amma Hastam scheme that guarantees nine essential commodities at a subsidised price tag of Rs 185 to white ration card holders. The Markapur MLA formally inaugurated the scheme at the local ZP Boys High School. Speaking on the occasion, he said that people had apprehensions over the implementation of the scheme. They were concerned over the possibility of ration shop dealers cornering the benefits, he said. Kandula said that it was up to the officials to prevent the scheme from becoming a laughing stock. They should ensure that the dealers stick to time schedule. The ration shops should be open on all working days so that the beneficiaries have accessibility to the scheme. He also requested the ration card holders to make best use of the scheme. Reacting to the observations of the MLA, Revenue Divisional Officer M Raghava Rao told the gathering that ration shop dealers would be directed to open the shops till the stocks last. They should be told to keep open the kiosks till 15th of every month without fail so that the beneficiaries could get the commodities during the first two weeks of the month itself. The dealers should be assigned with the responsibility of supplying the commodities to all the beneficiaries. Any cases of commodity diversion by the dealers would be dealt with sternly, he warned. Municipal Commissioner Machireddi Ravinder Reddy, Deputy Education Officer M Kashiswar Rao and others spoke. Markapur Tahsildar Shaik Nagoor Sharif presided over the meeting. Enforcement official Venugopala Rao, food inspector Kiran, revenue inspectors Veeraiah and Chandrasekhar were among others who were present on the occasion.