Odisha’s Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister, Krushna Chandra Patra, has reiterated his appeal for ineligible ration cardholders to voluntarily surrender their cards, assuring that no punitive measures will be taken against those who comply promptly.
This call is directed at rural residents with monthly incomes exceeding ₹10,000 and urban residents earning over ₹15,000.
The Minister highlighted that approximately 80,000 ineligible beneficiaries, including 4,500 government employees, have already returned their ration cards following the government’s appeal. He emphasized the importance of this initiative in ensuring that subsidized food grains and essential commodities reach the rightful beneficiaries. Patra also noted that the government has identified numerous violators and warned that failure to surrender the cards voluntarily could result in their names being made public.
In an effort to streamline the Public Distribution System (PDS) and eliminate unauthorized ration cards, the Odisha government has reopened its online portal as of March 1 to receive applications for ration cards from eligible beneficiaries. Prior to this, there were around six lakh pending applications awaiting approval, and the government anticipates an additional four lakh new applications.
Minister Patra’s ongoing appeal underscores the state’s commitment to ensuring food security for its most vulnerable citizens and maintaining the integrity of the PDS.
