Tura, June 29: Scores of government employees who have allegedly been taking advantage of food grain cards meant for weaker sections of society for years altogether could soon face action unless they surrender it to authorities at the earliest.

An order has been given out by the Deputy Commissioner (Supply), West Garo Hills directing authorities to identify those government servants who are holding possession of PHH and AAY Cards under NFSA 2013 which invariably allows them to procure government quota of food grains at subsidised rates which, otherwise, would have been going to the less privileged sections of society.

During the Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) of 2011, a considerable section of those deserving the benefits did not get their names into the government list of PHH and AAY cards under the National Food Securities Act-2013.

In what was believed to have been a flaw in the census gathering, many government employees allegedly managed to get their names included into the list, deliberately or otherwise.

Having detected the “error”, circulars were issued as back as 2016 and 2018 through press releases in local media directing all government servants to surrender these cards so as to make way for the poor and weaker sections to avail of the government benefits.

That apparently failed to cut much ice among many, who continued utilising the cards for their monthly ration of food grains.

It is alleged that those in possession of the cards meant for the poor included not just lower grade government employees but even top officials and some retired bureaucrats including ex-civil service officials. Politicians including former ministers are also alleged to have misused the cards for their benefits.

On Monday, the Deputy Commissioner informed that there are less fortunate households under Tura Municipal area that have been inadvertently left out from Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC), 2011 hence, they have been excluded from NFSA, 2013. Therefore, in order to mitigate the problems of poor and needy households during Covid-19 pandemic, all President/Secretary, Development Committee, Tura Municipal area are directed to identify households and report the matter to the Deputy Commissioner (Supply) who are possessing NFSA cards despite having one of their family members as Government Servant, pays professional tax, etc., and are availing benefits meant for the poor and weaker sections of the society.

Further, as per the direction of the Director, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Shillong, all Sub-Inspectors of Supply under Tura Sadar Division are directed to conduct special drive for inclusion of the vulnerable section of the society under NFSA 2013 and also to identify street dwellers, rag pickers, hawkers, migrant labourers, homeless destitute, commercial sex workers in the district.