TNM impact: 22 K'taka Dalit families get ration that was denied for not linking Aadhaar

After TNM reported about the incident, the authorities incharge swung into action and ensured that they got their supplies and PDS cards immediately.
TNM impact: 22 K'taka Dalit families get ration that was denied for not linking Aadhaar
TNM impact: 22 K'taka Dalit families get ration that was denied for not linking Aadhaar
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Twenty two Dalit families in Chowdadenahalli village in Chikballapur district have received one-and-a-half years worth of ration and PDS cards after they protested by eating raw vegetables on the outskirts of the village on Monday.

The protesters opposed the denial of ration for failing to link their ration card to Aadhaar card. After TNM reported about the incident, the authorities incharge swung into action and ensured that they got their supplies immediately.

“We all got 1.5 years worth ration, and PDS cards from the government. The Tehsildar is also meeting us today to clarify the issues we had in getting ration,” said Nagesh, a resident of Chowdadenahalli who was protesting the denial of ration.  

The action was taken after officials read about the issue on TNM, and the district authorities decided to resolve the issues immediately.

;The protesters demanded that government officials should produce a government circular confirming whether the Aadhaar card linkage was necessary to avail ration. “We asked the government officials who met us after the protest whether they had a government circular saying that they should not give ration without Aadhaar card link, and we were told that there was no such circular,” said Shashiraj, an activist based in Chintamani in Chikballapur.

The residents took to the streets on Monday to protest, after attempts to contact the Food and Supplies Department to resolve the issue failed. Families including children turned up at the agitation, defiant that they will not go back home until the Food and Supplies Department gives them their due. They claimed that Food and Supplies Minister UT Khader had been informed of the discrepancies in receiving ration and that they had provided their contact details including their addresses to the minister.

As the protesters did not receive a reply, they decided to protest against the issue by spreading out mats and eating raw, uncooked food including leafy vegetables and mangoes on Monday

The testimonies of the villagers from Chikballapur is the latest among a number of cases of ration being denied to those who have not linked their Aadhaar cards.

In October, over 20 people from various districts of Karnataka shared their stories of struggle and helplessness after they were denied ration for failing to link Aadhaar at a public hearing organised by The Right to Food campaign in Bengaluru.

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