There are innumerable fair price shops from where lakhs of poor get food grains. Government is providing 4 kg rice per month at Rs. 1 per kg to white card holders while 8 other food items are provided at least prices. Although the market rate of these 9 times is Rs. 300 but they are provided to white ration card holders at the cost of Rs. 185. The 4 litre kerosene oil provided to ration card holders is being sold in black at Rs. 40. The oil is usually bought by lorry drivers who mix it with diesel.
A bitter fact was revealed during investigation that majority of the fair price shop owners purchase Rs. 1 per kg rice from white ration card holders at Rs. 10 and the same is resold in black at Rs. 15 per kg. It may not be out of place to mention here that 20 kg rice is given per family on white ration card. Another fact was revealed that many ration shops have dozens of bogus cards and the fair price shops owners get direct benefit from them. Further probe revealed that corrupt officers from top to bottom level are involved in the scandal. They inform fair price shop owners when the raid is going to be conducted. Thus the officers conduct the raid as a formality and give clean chit to the shop owners.
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