Date:06/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/06/stories/2008040652510300.htm

New Delhi

Delhi Govt. accused of cheating the poor

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijay Goel has accused the Delhi Government of cheating the poor by reducing the quantity of food grains and wheat for the Above Poverty Line (APL) ration card holders.

Mr. Goel said the Government had put out hoardings promising to give 25 kg of wheat and 10 kg of rice to APL families whose annual income was less than Rs.1 lakh per year but more than that of the Below Poverty Line (BPL) card holders.

However, the quantities had now been reduced to 18 kg and 8 kg, respectively, he said.

How many of them?

The BJP leader slammed the Government for not being able to assess the number of APL families. “Initially the Government thought there were only five lakh people whose annual income was below Rs.1 lakh. But now they have found out that 13 lakh people have got their ration cards stamped (to be able to avail of the quota promised under the APL scheme) and, therefore, they have been forced to reduce the quantity,” he said.

Mr. Goel said this number was likely to go up now as the date for getting the ration cards stamped had been extended from March 31 to April 15. “The Government has been caught in its own trap as it would now require more than 3 crore bags of rice and wheat as compared to 1.25 crore bags required so far,” he said.