Food-for-work riddled with corruption, says CPI(M)

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, NOV. 28. Alleging large-scale irregularities in the implementation of the Food-for-work programme, the CPI(M) State Committee Secretary, Mr. B. V. Raghavulu, has demanded a high- level enquiry, preferably by a vigilance officer into them.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Raghavulu said his party had brought to the notice of the Revenue Minister, Mr. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, 50 instances where contractors have taken away rice meant for workers, resorting to violation of norms. ``It has been reduced to a programme for the Telugu Desam workers,'' he added.

A random check by the Engineering Staff College of India (ESCI) on the assets created under the programme in Ranga Reddy district showed that the estimates provided were more than the length and depth available for forming the road. In another case, road work was completed but rice was not distributed on the plea that measurements were not recorded.

Mr. Raghavulu said despite claims made by the Government, farmers continued to be denied Minimum Support Price for foodgrains, while procurement by the Food Corporation of India and the AP Civil Supplies Corporation remained poor. Of the promised 10 lakh tonnes of paddy, so far only 8,600 tonnes had been procured. Unless a minimum of 10 per cent of the produce was procured, ensuring MSP may not be possible. The worst-hit were farmers in Telangana region. In Karimnagar, the FCI had opened only 104 purchasing centres of the promised 173.

The CPI(M) leader criticised the Government for the delay in filling 141 vacancies of assistant section officers, as directed by the AP Administrative Tribunal. The Tribunal had given 15 days for the AP Public Service Commission to select the candidates and sending the list to the Government and another 15 days for the Government to issue appointment orders. He wanted the Government not to challenge the tribunal order in the High Court. He went on to allege that 5000 posts had been lying vacant for the last ten years, dealing a blow to unemployed persons and wondered if it was part of the Government's effort to reduce jobs by one per cent every year, as recommended by the World Bank.

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