Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, stated on Tuesday that there is scope for issuing nearly 3 crore new ration cards after states remove ineligible beneficiaries from the existing list. The total number of ration cards currently stands at 79 crore.
Removal of Ineligible Beneficiaries
Joshi emphasized that states have been asked to identify and remove ineligible beneficiaries from the ration card database. This process will free up slots for genuinely needy families. He noted that the government is committed to ensuring that no eligible person is left out of the public distribution system.
Current Status of Ration Cards
The minister informed that the total number of ration cards across the country is 79 crore. After the removal of ineligible beneficiaries, the government aims to issue new cards to approximately 3 crore families. This will help in covering more households under the National Food Security Act.
Joshi also highlighted that the government has taken several steps to streamline the distribution of subsidized food grains. The 'One Nation One Ration Card' scheme has been implemented in all states and union territories, allowing beneficiaries to avail their entitlements from anywhere in the country.
The minister urged states to complete the process of removing ineligible beneficiaries at the earliest to ensure that the benefits reach the intended recipients. He added that the government is using technology and data analytics to identify duplicate and fake ration cards.
