India’s ranking on the world corruption chart doesn’t surprise Bela Devi. For her, the battle against corruption began at the nearest government kerosene depot whose owner siphoned off the quota of entire localities and put the oil in the market.
Till she and 53 other residents blew the whistle. Following the Public Grievances Commission’s whip (PGC), the Delhi government’s Food and Civil Supplies (FCS) department has cracked down on two kerosene depots in Savitri Nagar near Sheikh Sarai.
The complaints poured in during March. Residents, joined by the local Satark Nagrik Sangathan, used the Right to Information to get their 23 complaints checked by the FCS. In a report released on Oct 6, FCS commissioner G.S. Pattnaik said: ‘‘As per the report received from assistant commissioner (south), 23 complaints made by the cardholders have been inquired into... complaints made by 16 cardholders about less supply of oil was found correct.’’
Five days later, M/s Saathi (licence 2541/82) and M/s Laxmi (2472/81) paid up fines of
Rs 5,000 each. Paltry as that might be, residents say the move has ensured they get their quota now.
When the Newsline team visited M/s Laxmi, shop owner Amar Singh had little to say. ‘‘My brother, Phun Singh, was handling things in the shop here. Uske chakkar mein meri rozi-roti hi chali jaati...isliye maine usey nikaal diya (I would have lost my livelihood due to him so I threw him out),’’ he said. M/s Saathi was closed today, as on most days, residents alleged.
‘‘Earlier, I used to get four litres, as against a quota of seven litres. Now, I have started getting seven litres of my quota,’’ says 30-year-old Sabina. ‘‘They used to misbehave earlier. Now, they are, at least, giving us our due,’’ added Bela Devi.
‘‘M/s Laxmi has now started giving the people their due share,’’ said Ashok Kumar, a postgraduate student from Delhi University and member of the Sangathan. It’s been a difficult battle, he says, for a mere seven litres of kerosene for a family of five and up to 11 litres for nine per month.
The department did not listen to their complaints but when Ashok filed an RTI application on June 11, he ensured they responded.