People complain of problems at flour points

Citizens say they were denied bag of flour due to faults during scanning of their cards

CHICHAWATNI:

Some people have made complaints against the working of the free flour distribution centres.

The government has launched a scheme to provide free flour to the people during the holy month of Ramazan. For the implementation of free flour scheme, 10 free flour distribution centres have been established at various important places of the tehsil, including Chichawatni city.

Two flour distribution centres have been established at Rai Ali Nawaz Cricket Stadium and Sharminda Road for the urban population of 100,000.

Similarly, for the rural population of one million of tehsil, one flour distribution centre each has been established at eight important places of the tehsil, Kassowal, 68 Mor, Okanwala Bangla, Ghaziabad, 90 Mor, Dadfatihana, Iqbal Nagar and Mauza Kamand.

It has become clear that the number of free flour distribution centers is not enough compared to thousands of deserving people who want to avail the facility of the free flour scheme.

According to the complaints received from the Free Flour distribution centres, some people had had their ID cards scanned and then an objection was raised that their ID cards did not have a SIM card so it could not be scanned. But when the disappointed people returned home empty-handed and sent messages at 8070 again, they received messages that they had received bags of flour. Dozens of people were being affected daily by this confusion at all the centres.

Altaf and his wife, Rasheedan Bibi, residents of Chak No. 114, Bara L, went to the centre in Chichawatani to get flour and the staff returned their ID cards saying that their ID cards could not be scanned. But when they went back home and messaged 8070 again, they got a message that they had gotten a bag of flour.

Similarly, another couple went to the respective centre to get flour where the staff after scanning their ID card said that they had already received one bag, now the second bag would be available after 10 days.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2023.