Confusion prevails at Praja Palana centres, huge crowds, forms sold for premium

HYDERABAD: With the Praja Palana application form mentioning that the last date for receiving applications is January 6, 2024, applicants thronged the application centres on day one in large numbers resulting in a mad rush to secure an application at any cost.

Many Xerox centres close to the centres designated to distribute and receive the forms started taking copies of the form and selling them at a premium. With the demand exceeding the supply of forms, each form fetched a rate of Rs 50 to Rs 100 in some places.

In Hyderabad, at Chandanagar e-seva centre and the KPHB, the public turned restless and protested the inordinate delay in the distribution of forms. Even though the Government on Wednesday clarified that people without ration cards as proof could apply with the help of the form and also apply for a new ration (food security) card at a separate counter, this added to the confusion. In some centres, the revenue officials demanded a letter from the applicant explaining that he or she didn’t have a ration card.

Many applicants were found enquiring at the counters as they were not sure who must be applying. Many pointed out that the application was not clear on whether the head of the family should submit the form or anyone in that family.

Meanwhile, the Government had made it clear that the application process would be an ongoing affair and there was no reason to panic. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday while launching the application said that the panchayat offices would receive the applications even after the last date, i.e. January 6, 2024.

The Government also said that the public outreach programme would be organised every quarter or once in four months and applications would be issued at that time for the new applicants.