After states canceled 2.21 crore ineligible ration cards, the Center has approved 3 crore new cards. The move is aimed at ensuring that food grains are delivered only to eligible and needy people.
New Delhi: There is a big news for ration card holders. The central government has given the green signal to issue about 3 crore new ration cards. On Thursday, Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi said that this step is being taken because many state governments are canceling 2.21 crore ineligible or fake ration cards. On the occasion of the inauguration of the smart warehousing system, Joshi made it clear, ‘The central government has not done the work of removing ineligible people. State governments have taken this decision based on their own rules.
He said that the Food Ministry had identified 8.51 crore people who were probably not eligible for the scheme. These included the deceased, income tax payers and four-wheeler owners. This list was sent to the states. Out of this list of 8.51 crore, states have so far canceled 2.21 crore ration cards. Joshi said, ‘We have not canceled the cards. All this has become possible due to the digitalization of Public Distribution System (PDS).
Permission granted to add eligible people
Joshi further said, ‘States have been allowed to add eligible beneficiaries. Different state governments can now issue about 3 crore new ration cards.
He also said that the process of card cancellation is not the same in every state. Some states have completed this work, while some have not even started identifying ineligible people. The aim of the Center is not to save money, but to ensure that food grains reach the needy. Joshi said, ‘Taking everything together, there are now 79 crore ration cards in the country. Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, our target is to provide free food grains to 80 crore people.