NAGPUR/CHANDRAPUR: District collector of Akola Neema Arora on Monday issued directives to the district supply officer that monthly ration at fair price shops should be given only to those who have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccination.
This decision has shocked Chhagan Bhujbal who heads the Maharashtra civil supplies ministry. Bhujbal, who is in Vidarbha at present, told TOI that he will talk with the official in this matter and seek details.
Akola RDC Sanjay Khadse said the directives were issued internally to the officials in order to increase vaccination in the district, which is presently in bottom five districts of Maharashtra. “We are not going to stop anyone’s ration but we want people to come forward and get vaccinated,” he said.
According to officials, ration shops will monitor the festive rush after October 30 as Diwali festivities are round the corner. In Akola, less than 50% population has received at least a single dose of vaccination. The festive rush at fair price shops is likely to spread infection. As a result, the district administration has made the announcement about ‘no vaccine, no ration’ formula.
“We have at least 11 days in hand. We have enough vaccines available. The only motive is to encourage more number of people to get jabbed. Hopefully, this order will inspire many people to get vaccinated,” said Khadse.
However, as the news regarding this order spread across the region, it invited different types of reactions from the administration as well as from the political front.
Bhujbal, who was in Chandrapur on Tuesday, expressed shock over the Akola collector’s decision. Bhujbal claimed that the government has openly helped deprived people through fair price shops during the pandemic. “It is wrong to stall supplies to the needy and pressurize them to take vaccine,” he said.
According to Bhujbal, officials should take a focused approach and motivate people towards taking vaccine, but should not stop their ration ahead of festivities. “There could be other means to prompt people for vaccination,” he said.
A senior official told TOI that initiatives like making vaccines must for all 18+ students before entering colleges and to all those who visit banks are also on cards in Akola. The purpose is to increase vaccination before October 30.
