2,000 ghost families struck off from rolls

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 5: Administrative officials in Chanchal sub-division have deleted nearly 2,000 ghost families from master rolls to prepare the final list for a compensation of Rs 500 to each family whose backyard poultry were culled in January after the out-break of Bird Flu at Mahanandapur in Chanchal Block. After culling more than 86,900 backyard poultry initially it was roughly estimated that 16,000 families were entitled to receive a compensation. Following the instruction of the minister for animal resources development (ARD) Mr Anisur Rahaman, the administrative officials started scrutiny of the master rolls where more than 13,000 families were enlisted for compensation. The ARD Minister Mr Anisur Rahaman had asked the Chanchal sub-division officials to be cautious before finalising the list of families entitled for compensation pointing out the problem where several villagers tried to enlist their families on the master rolls during culling operation to get compensation from the government. The minister held a meeting here on 14 February to review post-culling operation period in the Bird Flu areas. “We have deleted nearly 2000 names as head of the family members because many villagers showed their family members as separated head of the family to get more compensation,” said Mr Debasish Sarkar, SDO, Chanchal, northern part of the district. “Over 11,000 families have finally been selected for the compensation. A week ago we had sent the list to the Malda district magistrate and district level monitoring committee for consideration of the final list. Compensation will be distributed to the victims when the state authorities will sanction funds”, Mr Sarkar said. A few days ago Mr A V Negi, joint commissioner of Animal Husbandry Department of the central government visited the aff-ected areas and expressed his satisfaction over the culling operation. “There was no bird during the visit of Mr Negi in the affected villages where backyard poultry were culled. But, pragmatically, we can not say there is no bird at present”, Mr Sarkar said. The administration had to launch mopping up drive for a second time because a few villagers started rearing backyard poultry there ignoring government direction of not rearing poultry for at least three months after the culling operation.