MC organises camps for preparing smart cards

Our Correspondent

Ahmedgarh, February 15

To increase the efficiency of the public distribution system (PDS) and help genuine beneficiaries avail themselves of benefits of the PDS and the ‘Atta Dal Scheme’, the civic body officials have started organising camps for filling application forms for the preparation of smart cards.

Though councillors, owing allegiance to the Congress, have been coordinating these camps being organised ward-wise, conveners of camps have been advised to make sure that no one is denied the right to lodge claim to enroll him or her as a smart-card holder.

Chief coordinator of the event, Teji Kamalpur (PA to legislator Surjit Singh Dhiman), said decision to organise camps had been taken on the demand of beneficiaries who were earlier running from pillar to post to lodge their claim. “We came to know about the problems being faced by illiterate heads of poor families and coordinated with the MC authorities for organising ward-wise camps,” said Kamalpur, appreciating that office-bearers and activists of social organisations had also extended help in organising camps in their respective areas.

Deepak Sharma and Kedar Nath Kapila, councillors of ward number 5 and 6, respectively, said more than 250 forms were received during the camp organised at Dehliz Road. “As a majority of the beneficiaries were illiterate women, we arranged volunteers for filling forms and getting photocopies done for them,” said Deepak Sharma.

Municipal Council president Suraaj Mohammad said the exercise was being done to facilitate the replacement of blue cards under the ‘Atta Dal Scheme’ with new smart cards so that the beneficiaries can get the benefits of the PDS in a smooth manner. “We want to make sure that all genuine beneficiaries are enrolled for the facilities available under the National Food Security Act,” said Suraaj Mohammad.