HYDERABAD: All is not well with the issuance of ration cards in the twin cities. With a severe shortage of staff and literally dry bank coffers, functioning of 104 designated photography locations (DPL) in 13 constituencies in Hyderabad for the process that began early this year, appears a miracle.

The staff requirement, from where the trouble starts, at each DPL is supposed to be at least 15. But no DPL has more than eight personnel. Even the present personnel managing the DPLs are drawn from various departments.

Their working hours start from 9 a.m. and in most centres stretches beyond 9 p.m. With no prior experience in working together or handling such assignments, coordination has been a tightrope walk so far.

More DPLs

"Yes, there is a severe staff shortage," admits District Collector Arvind Kumar. With one more month to go, with strong possibilities of extension of the deadline again, the staff crunch could only intensify with more DPLs to be opened in areas, including Karwan and Chandrayangutta, from Monday.

The administration is planning to merge some DPLs with nearby ones to speed up things and also to draw more staff from whichever department possible. And that, an official remarks, is easier said than done.

The staff, right now, are being paid Rs.35 a day for food expenses, something which is done only in Hyderabad district. Requests for payment of TA/DA expenses are pending with the Government.

Dismal finances

More dismal is the financial situation. The expenditure for Hyderabad district for the entire process, including rent for DPLs located in function halls, tables, chairs and so on, is Rs.3.3 crores. So far, the Civil Supplies Department has released a paltry Rs.90 lakhs. The results are there to be seen.

Efforts to make the DPLs citizen-friendly with bare amenities are yet to gain steam and the average number of cards issued per day is still less than 100, instead of the 150 aimed for.

The situation, with the ration card drive intended primarily for the poor, somehow does not gel with the pro-poor claims of the Government.

The breakup

The authorities have so far issued 5,01,056 cards till March 29 in the 13 assembly constituencies in the city. Of this, 1,61,918 are white cards and 3,34,570 are pink cards. Khairatabad topped the list with 66,291 cards and the least number of 24031 cards were issued in Yakutpura.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail