The city unit of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI(M) has organised a ‘bhikshatana’ (seeking donations) to help the Uttarakhand flood victims. The leaders collected donations from the public at Besant Road, Lenin Centre, Rajagopalachari Street and other places on Wednesday.
CPI(M) city secretary Ch. Babu Rao said that hundreds of people died at Uttarakhand and whereabouts of thousands of people is not known. The government relief measures, however, scanty. The government needs to step up the relief operations, he said.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Babu Rao demanded the Government to scarp the cash transfer scheme. The government should postpone the implementation in view of practical problems. Not less than 50 per cent people did not get their Aadhaar cards. About 10 to 15 per cent people who applied for the Aadhar card a year ago also not received the cards so far.
The gas agencies and fair shops were insisting the consumers to produce the Aadhaar cards. The benefits of cash transfer scheme would not be extended unless bank account and Aadhaar cards were produced. The people were worried about the Aadhaar cards and opening of bank accounts.
Some of the banks ran out of applications, while some were not interested in opening zero balance accounts, he said and adding that the CPI(M) would raise these issues at Food Advisory Committee meeting.
