In Hyderabad, there have been a large number of applications for new ration cards during the ‘Praja Palana’ special drive in December and January. The government is now facing challenges in screening all these applications. About 20 lakh applications have been received, and officials are working hard to review them.
Ground-level officials are visiting households to verify eligibility and conduct scrutiny for those who have applied for new ration cards. In the GHMC limits, over five lakh applications are being checked by corporation officials. In districts, outsourcing employees are responsible for verifying and identifying eligible applicants. Those who qualify will receive benefits like a Rs 500 gas cylinder, free electricity, free bus travel for women, increased health coverage up to Rs 10 lakh, and housing for poor families.
Currently, the state has 90 lakh households with ration cards. The government initially expected around 10 lakh new applications through the ‘Praja Palana’ drive, but the response was overwhelming, with almost double the number of applicants. This has caused delays in the screening process due to technical difficulties, and it may take several months to issue new ration cards.
