59,712 ineligible Atta-Dal beneficiaries in Muktsar

The new list

• The district had 5,76,551 Atta-Dal scheme beneficiaries. The number has now come down to 5,16,839
• The total number of Blue Cards meant for the scheme were 1,45,555 in the district, which has now come down to 1,39,376 after the verification process

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 24

After declaring 13,410 persons as ineligible beneficiaries of the old-age pension scheme, the Muktsar district administration has now found 59,712 beneficiaries of the state government’s populist Atta-Dal scheme to be ineligible. As many as 6,179 Blue Cards meant for the Atta-Dal scheme have been found bogus after verification, which was completed recently.

Earlier, the district had 5,76,551 Atta-Dal scheme beneficiaries. The number has now come down to 5,16,839.

The total number of Blue Cards meant for the scheme were 1,45,555 in the district, which have now come down to 1,39,376 after the verification process.

A perusal of data procured from the district food and civil supplies office reveals that in Malout sub-division, as many as 63,005 Blue Cards were found genuine and there were 2,34,677 beneficiaries. Similarly, in Muktsar sub-division, the total eligible Blue Cards were 43,091 and the number of beneficiaries was 1,61,273. In Gidderbaha sub-division, there are a total of 33,280 genuine Blue Cards and 1,20,889 genuine beneficiaries now.

A Blue Card is issued to one household, listing the total number of family members as beneficiaries.

Geeta Bishambu, District Food and Civil Supplies Controller (DFSC), Muktsar, said, “The verification process was recently completed, which was done with utmost care. Still, if any genuine beneficiary has been removed from the list, he/she may approach us.”

“A total number of 6,179 card-holders have been found ineligible in the district. There are various reasons for this. Either such beneficiaries fell in higher income group or someone changed his/her address or was found dead.”

The state government had ordered the verification of all beneficiaries in November last yeat after “irregularities” were alleged in the making of Blue Cards.

The beneficiaries are awaiting the supply, which was reportedly suspended due to the verification process. Sources said the government was mulling to release 10 months of wheat and pulses in one go.

As per the scheme, each beneficiary is entitled to 5-kg wheat and 500-gm pulses per month, with 2.5-kg pulses fixed as the higher limit per family per month. There is no upper cap in case of the wheat distribution.

Courtesy: The Tribune