Number of pensioners to be doubled: Sairani

Kolkata, Sep 13 (UNI) Accepting the demands of the Forward Bloc's peasants' wing All India Agragami Kisan Sabha (AIAKS), State Food Minister Naren De today agreed to increase the number of pension-holders of aged farmers.

''We met state Food Minister Naren De today and submitted a deputation urging him to increase the present number of pension holders of aged farmers. The minister has agreed to it and doubled the number from 27,775 to 55,550 from the current fiscal year,'' AIAKS leader Hafiz Ali Sairani said.

Meanwhile, Mr Sairani speaking on ration cards issued until 2001, he claimed that according to the census that year, there were 30-35 lakh bogus ration cards in the state which the food department had acknowledged. He further claimed that these cards were not with the people, who are supposed to be their holders.

''We have also demanded that these be seized and fresh ration cards be provided to their rightful holders,'' he said.

He also alleged that it was the duty of the SDO, DM, BDO and the Food Department to rescue the bogus ration cards but the general administration did not cooperate with the food department. ''We will organise a mass movement in near future, if our demands were not met,'' he added.

UNI