Ration cards that not used in six months will be freezed
Introductory Memo: The central government has reportedly decided to cancel ration cards that have not been used to purchase ration for six months to eliminate fake, duplicate and ineligible beneficiaries from the Public Distribution System (PDS). According to the article, around 1.58 crore ration cards are inactive nationwide, including approximately four to four-and-a-half lakh cards in Kerala, of which 44,000 belong to the priority category. Beneficiaries whose cards are cancelled will reportedly be given three months to establish their eligibility and complete electronic KYC to reactivate their cards. The initiative aims to ensure that subsidised food grains reach deserving beneficiaries and prevent misuse of government resources. However, the Kerala government is concerned that the cancellation of a large number of ration cards could affect the state’s allocation of food grains from the central government, and the Food and Civil Supplies Department has reportedly initiated steps to identify eligible beneficiaries, update KYC details and reactivate inactive cards.
Analytical view/ Analysis: Ration cards not used in six months will be freezed. This is to eliminate fake, duplicate and ineligible beneficiaries from the Public Distribution System (PDS).
The central government has decided to cancel the ration cards of those who have not purchased ration for six months. The cards that have not been purchased six months before October 1 will be cancelled from the first date. But the decision hasn’t been implemented yet. Even if the cards are invalidated, they will be given an opportunity to prove that they are the rightful beneficiary for another three months. After that, it will be removed from the list.
It has been found that 1.58 crore ration cards are not being used at the national level. The decision to cancel ration cards was taken to cleanse the public distribution system by removing dead, fake or doubtful ration cards as part of the smart public distribution system. If the KYC is completed electronically within the three-month period allowed by the central government, the cancelled cards will be reactivated. If the ration card is not used to purchase food grains even once in six months, the card is considered to be inactive.
The Ministry of Food has said that the database of the public distribution system is being purified to ensure that the country’s food grain reserves reach the deserving people and prevent its misuse. By digitising ration cards, linking them with Aadhaar and implementing the electronic KYC system, 5 crore 80 lakh ration cards were excluded from the public distribution system in 2024. Four lakh ration cards in Kerala are lying in a state of limbo due to non-purchase of ration for six months. This includes 44,000 priority category cards. More than four lakh cards of other categories are lying in a state of limbo.
There are a total of 96 lakh cards in Kerala. The state government is worried that if about four and a half lakh cards in Kerala are made inoperative, then such a large number of ration items will be reduced from the central quota. According to the Food Security Act, the state receives 32,000 tonnes of rice annually as central share. In Kerala, the state government and the food department have started the process of reviving the cards by identifying the owners of the dead ration cards and ensuring KYC.
Reference
- Hindustan Times https://share.google/sXCBnSDQuvjVslFnr
- Kerala Kaumudi https://share.google/HFyRjqJgW4FkHEikw
- Press Information Bureau https://share.google/t4QvloKBogZwtGfMt
- The Times of India https://share.google/yUnSkTrCFAc9jU95a
- www.uniindia.com https://share.google/I6SVdG46Xbk05qY9b
News at a Glance: The central government has decided to freeze or cancel ration cards that have not been used to purchase ration for six months
By the Numbers: 1.58 crore ration cards are inactive nationwide will be freezed. InKerala alone 4.5 lakhs card will be freezed.
Academic Insight: Why the priority sector is not using ration cards. Whether our PDS have bogus cards and ineligible card holders.
Social Media Pulse: Discussion is going on why central govt not implemented it on 1st Oct as declared.
On Our Reading List: Mathrubhumi, Manorama, Indian express, Times of India, Deshabhimani, Janambhumi
Article by: G K Suresh Babu