Hyderabad: The task of removing invalid ration cards often brings challenges for state governments focused on welfare. However, when the Union government provides a list of cards to remove, the state can refine this process further.
The Centre has raised concerns about ‘ineligible’ people using the Public Distribution System (PDS) benefits. They identified nearly 1 lakh cards under which these benefits were misused and sent this list to the state. With this information, the State Civil Supplies Department is actively working to eliminate ‘unused’ ration cards.
Officials quickly found over 1.5 lakh families who haven’t collected their rations in at least six months.
The list from the Centre included issues like duplicate family details in other states’ ration cards, deceased cardholders, and fraudulent card obtainment. State authorities were instructed to verify these cards. Civil Supplies officials have started checking and investigating these cases. The process is fast-tracked and nearing completion, with district and mandal-level officials conducting field checks and logging data online.
It’s expected that most cards from the Centre’s list will be canceled due to ineligibility. So far, about 80% of these cards have been reviewed, revealing 30% belong to ineligible users. Many cardholders haven’t received rations for 6 to 12 months.
In response, the state approved the issue of 2 lakh new ration cards. The verification continues, ensuring ‘eligible’ applicants receive cards after their applications are reviewed. Applicants who used MeeSeva centers or other platforms can track their application status. The government also announced that beneficiaries could collect three months’ worth of subsidized rice in June, aiming to ease family burdens and reduce crowding at distribution centers.
