Woman squats on road protesting delay in issuing PDS card

Chennai

A young mother along with her three-year-old son squatted in the middle of the road in Mylapore, after authorities denied her family of a ration card on Monday.

The homemaker, U Manonmani (34), a resident of Nochikuppam, sat in a dharna after running for pillar to post to obtain a new ration card, in front of the regional office located at RK Mutt Road.

She said, “I relocated to a new house in the same locality around three months back. Soon, I applied for a new card and submitted all the valid documents including Aadhaar and bank pass book. Subsequently, they asked me to visit the office after five days to receive my card. Later, they kept shifting the dates raising the waiting period to three months.”

The family was deprived of their privileges and were heavily dependent upon the local store to purchase groceries. The victim was taken aback when she had learnt that her card is not yet ready for dispatch.

Immediately, she inquired with the e-Seva center and was informed her that the card has been blocked by the authorities concerned. “Further, the official at the desk asked me to inquire with the regional office here,” she added.

When Manonmani demanded for a reply, the authorities in the government office did not pay heed to her grievances. She was infuriated and took to the street along with her son, U Harshan (3). Later, the local police intervened and convinced her to return home.

“I had my doubts from the beginning that they are seeking for a bribe. But they never asked me in upfront. A resident belonging to my locality applied for the ration card around the same day. They had received their family card at their doorsteps. I had learnt from other sources that they had paid Rs 11,000 plus a service charge of Rs 3,000 to a middleman to get the work done. The government should offer these services for a nominal amount. But that’s not the situation,” she said.

When contacted, a top official in the Civil Supplies Department said, “The issue will be redressed immediately. I will make sure that the victim receives her family card soon.”