ALLEGATIONS OF EXPIRED MEDICINE DISTRIBUTION

ALLEGATIONS OF EXPIRED MEDICINE DISTRIBUTION

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RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA----------------------------An incident involving the alleged distribution of expired medicines to flood victims at the relief camp in Lakshmanpur, under the Ara Sadar block, has come to light. Qyamuddin Ansari, a member of the CPI(ML) State Standing Committee and a former candidate for the Ara Assembly constituency, issued a press statement leveling serious allegations against the district administration and demanding a thorough investigation into the matter.

According to Ansari, villagers noticed the expiry date on the medicine labels while medicines were being distributed at the relief camp. Protesting this, the villagers created an uproar and blocked the Ara-Barhara road. Upon learning of the incident while visiting flood-affected areas, Ansari immediately rushed to Lakshmanpur, where villagers showed him the medicines alleged to be expired.

The CPI(ML) leader termed the distribution of expired medicines to flood victims an act of gross negligence. He demanded that the Bhojpur District Magistrate and the Civil Surgeon investigate the matter, register an FIR against the relief camp in-charge, and take appropriate action.

Ansari also alleged widespread irregularities in the disaster relief list. He stated that the names of a large number of genuine flood victims were missing from the list. He urged the district administration and the Disaster Management Department to include the names of all excluded flood victims and to make the list public immediately to ensure transparency in relief distribution.

The leader also expressed dissatisfaction with the arrangements for community kitchens operating in the Ara Sadar block. He demanded the establishment of community kitchens in approximately two dozen flood-affected villages, including Bhakura, Pipra, Bara, Basantpur, Srinagar, Lakshmanpur, Dhudhua, Balua, Daulatpur, Dumra, Pirauta, Yadavpur, Chaumukha, Pipra Jaipal, Jagwalia, Mohanpur, Deodhi, Kadra, Mahuli, Balua, and Tenua.

He further stated that plastic tents should be distributed to all flood-affected panchayats under the supervision of government employees from the Disaster Management Department. He alleged that complaints regarding irregularities in the distribution of tents by *Mukhiyas* (village heads) are also surfacing.

Also present on the occasion alongside Qyamuddin Ansari were Vijay Ojha (CPI-ML State Committee member and Ara Mufassil Secretary), farmer leaders Hareram Singh and Dhanoj Yadav, RJD leader Munna Yadav, and Panchayat Samiti members Janardan Gond and Manish Yadav, among others.