![President MC Kathua, Naresh Sharma and other councilors at a press conference on Wednesday. -Excelsior/ Pardeep President MC Kathua, Naresh Sharma and other councilors at a press conference on Wednesday. -Excelsior/ Pardeep](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/page9-6-2.jpg)
Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, June 24: The Municipal Council (MC) Kathua has accused the District Administration of bungling in distribution of free ration supplied by Government of India for migrant labourers.
The Municipal Council Kathua president, Naresh Sharma, vice president, Rekha Kumari, councilors, Ravinder Pathania, Sanjeev Vaid, Bupinder Kumar ,Prem Nath Dogra while addressing the media persons here, today alleged that large scale bungling in distribution of free ration supply has taken place in Kathua district during the present COVID crisis.
They said that the Government of India has released firstly five kg free rice and after that 10kg free Rice for migrant labourers residing in Kathua as per national scale. There are nearly 20,000 migrants labourers residing in various wards of Kathua city and majority of them are residing in Hatli Morh, Sawan Chack, Parliawand, WNO 1 and WNO 4 of Kathua town .
They further added that first consignment of 5kg was given just few families and second consignment of 10 kg was given merely to 30% labourers. Now the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department (FCSCA) has said that there is no ration available with them. The Municipal Council pointed out that when Government of India has issued clear cut directions to distribute the free ration under the supervision Municipal Comm-ittees in Urban areas and under supervision of Panchayats in rural areas why this direction was not adopted in Kathua district.
They said the administration, FCSCA and Labour Departments did not bother to get data or take into confidence the Municipal Committee and Panchayat members . They demanded CBI inquiry in distribution of free ration to Migrants labourers during the lockdown. So that the real picture comes out and migrant labourers may get justice. They added that a letter in this connection has already been written by them to LG, GC Murmu seeking his intervention in the matter.