The Odisha government has removed over 1 lakh ineligible beneficiaries from its ration card database.
The move comes as part of an ongoing verification exercise under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS).
Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra informed the State Assembly that 30,125 ration cards, covering 1,09,853 individuals, were found ineligible and subsequently deleted. Additionally, the names of 6,38,996 deceased beneficiaries were removed from official records.
This cleanup has paved the way for genuine applicants to be included. So far, 2,05,384 new families, comprising 3,87,819 members, have been added to the food security schemes. Another 5,09,606 applications are currently undergoing field verification.
The government has implemented 10 exclusion criteria to identify ineligible beneficiaries. Ration card data is being cross-verified with other departmental databases, and e-KYC verification is being used to flag deceased individuals.
Minister Patra emphasized that the initiative is aimed at ensuring transparency, reducing leakages, and enhancing the efficiency of welfare delivery.
