Attention ration card holders; Govt to take action against 5.5 lakh inactive users

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The central government is planning to take steps to make ration distribution in Kerala more transparent. With this, priority ration cards can no longer be distributed according to the state's preferences. The Centre has presently directed Kerala to identify and freeze ration cards that have not been used to purchase ration for more than six months and to verify the details of the members listed on those cards.

The authorities have also been directed to check whether the same person is listed as a member on more than one ration card. Mobile phone numbers must be added to all ration cards as well. In addition, 5,62,494 non-priority ration cards that have not been used to purchase ration for more than six months are expected to be frozen. This includes 4,40,811 white cards and 1,21,683 blue cards. However, ration can be purchased again if all members listed on the card complete e-KYC within three months. The mobile phone numbers of all members must also be added.

On average, 17.65 lakh people in Kerala do not buy their monthly ration allocation. The objective is to identify and remove people who obtain ration cards solely to avail themselves of benefits from government schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, but do not actually purchase ration. Once cards of those who have not purchased ration continuously for six months are temporarily deactivated, they will not be eligible to receive free or subsidised foodgrains from ration shops from October 1.

The cards are not permanently cancelled at this stage. They are only temporarily frozen. Services provided through ration shops will be stopped. Since the government aims to eliminate fake beneficiaries who use ration cards for other purposes, there is a possibility that the ration cards could be permanently cancelled if e-KYC is not completed within the stipulated deadline.

State preference will no longer apply

Priority ration cards cannot be distributed according to the state's preferences. Presently when a family is removed from the priority list, the state issues ration cards to new applicants. This practice will be discontinued as part of the Smart PDS (Public Distribution System), which will soon be implemented under the One Nation One Ration Card scheme. The state had signed a memorandum of understanding for this in 2024. Central approval will be required for the distribution of cards and the determination of priority status. Ineligible beneficiaries will be removed, making the distribution system more efficient.

With the implementation of Smart PDS, the Centre will verify Aadhaar details and remove ineligible beneficiaries from the priority list. The state had issued priority ration cards to another 73,024 families in July end. Priority ration cards--yellow and pink cards are eligible for free ration. The Centre will take over completely the responsibility of state's public distribution system. Details of ration card members in Kerala had already been transferred to the National Informatics Centre's server.

The Centre has directed that the scheme first be implemented urgently in one district and then expand across the state. Smart PDS is a system that integrates the distribution process from warehouses to ration shops, route mapping and surveillance camera systems. With increased monitoring, the Centre will be able to adjust the quantity of foodgrains supplied according to demand.