Fishermen on a Paradip beach. Telegraph picture

Paradip, Sept. 11: The alleged enlistment of bogus beneficiaries in the Rice for Olive Ridley Conservation scheme for traditional marine fishermen families has sparked off a row here.

The social security scheme has failed to make a headway even though more than 5,000 families, who are being affected by the seven-month-long prohibition on marine fishing for turtle protection measures every year, have been distributed special eligibility cards for the subsidised rice benefits.

The fishermen families are yet to receive a grain of rice, which has left the community feel dejected.

“Glaring discrepancies committed by those in charge of identifying and enumerating the beneficiaries have made a mockery of the scheme. Those who are not involved in sea fishing have made their way to the list. According to our conservative estimate, more than 650 non-fishermen figure in the list of beneficiaries,” said Tushar Sardar, the district wing chief of the traditional marine fishermen association.

“Many seagoing fishermen, who are losing out livelihood options because of fishing prohibition for turtle conservation, have been left out of the list of beneficiaries. The state marine fisheries department has been apprised of the lopsided enumeration and distribution of cards to ineligible beneficiaries. We hope things are set right at the earliest so that bona fide fishermen, whose names do not figure in the list, get the benefits of the scheme,” he added.

“I earn my living by sea fishing. I was glad to know that the government launched an alternate livelihood scheme and Rice for Olive Ridley Conservation scheme. But, I was shocked to find my name missing from the list whereas many people, who do not make a living by sea fishing, were enlisted as the beneficiaries of the scheme. Our life has become miserable following the prohibition,” said Dinabandhu Mandal, a marine fisherman from Kharinasi village.

“Some mistakes in the enumeration process have to come our notice. These are being rectified. The names of about a hundred enlisted beneficiaries have already been dropped from the list as they did not come under the purview of the scheme. Those fishermen, who are alleged to have been left out, will be included in the list,” said Paradip marine fisheries officer Ranjit Keshari Dash.