A major review of ration cards in Patna has revealed a significant backlog, prompting the district administration to issue urgent directives for verification and clearance. The district supply task force found that out of 207,313 ration cards under scrutiny, only 102,588 had been processed so far.
Massive Backlog in Verification Process
Presiding over a crucial meeting on Tuesday, Patna District Magistrate Thiyagarajan S M directed sub-divisional officers (SDOs) to immediately engage block-level officials. Their task is to verify the remaining 104,725 cards to ensure that only eligible beneficiaries remain within the Public Distribution System (PDS). This large-scale verification drive aims to cleanse the system of ineligible cardholders.
Clearing Pending Applications and Ensuring Timely Allotment
The meeting also highlighted a substantial backlog in new ration card applications. Officials reported that 7,910 online requests for processing ration cards were pending, while another 5,728 were under process. Taking serious note of the delay, the DM instructed officials to expedite the disposal of all 13,638 pending applications.
District Magistrate Thiyagarajan S M emphasized the urgency, stating, “All new card holders must receive their grain allotments without delay.” This directive underscores the administration's commitment to ensuring food security for rightful beneficiaries.
Crackdown on Defaulters and Weekly Monitoring
To maintain transparency and efficiency in the Public Distribution System, the administration has ordered regular inspections and surprise raids on fair price shops. These measures are designed to verify that beneficiaries are actually receiving their entitled benefits.
The SDOs have been directed to take strict action against any defaulting vendors. Furthermore, they must submit a detailed Action Taken Report (ATR) on a weekly basis, ensuring continuous monitoring and accountability.
The DM also stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in the entire supply chain—from the lifting of foodgrains from government godowns to their final distribution to consumers. This end-to-end oversight is crucial for plugging leaks and strengthening the PDS framework in the district.
