A Scene At The Ration Depot

A Scene At The Ration Depot

A ration depot is a place where controlled commodities of daily use are supplied to the people at normal rates fixed by the government. It has become almost a haunted place in these days of soaring prices. People carrying ration cards in their hands are seen standing in a line before the ration depot. Sometimes, they reach the place before the opening of the depot. There is heard a loud roar when the depot holder comes in sight. He takes some time in arranging his register and weights. He then starts entering the ration cards and receiving money. The quantity of items allotted is written on a slip of paper. The card-holder gets this slip and goes to second man who examines the slip and weight out the required quantity. The depot holder thus attends to tone card-holder at a time. People have to stay in the queue for a long time. Children and women can be seen standing in sun or shower. Housewives are often tired of standing in the long queue. Sometimes, there is created a scene at the ration depot. Some card-holders Try to present their cards out of turn. Others do not let them do so. At times the police have to be called to control the situation. Many a time, the depot holders indulge in black marketing. They try to put the customers off on one pretext or the other. Those who do not get their items have to go back disappointed. In fact, the rationing system needs to be re-examined and mad more efficient.