In a significant crackdown on irregularities within the Public Distribution System (PDS), the Madhya Pradesh government has cancelled a staggering 30 lakh ration cards found to be held by ineligible beneficiaries. The year-long verification drive uncovered that individuals who were financially well-off, including directors of private companies and income tax filers, were availing benefits meant exclusively for the poorest citizens.
Shocking Findings from the Verification Drive
The comprehensive verification exercise, led by the state's food and civil supplies department, revealed startling details. Authorities discovered that approximately 1,500 directors of private companies and 38,000 individuals filing income tax returns with an annual income exceeding Rs 6 lakh were drawing free monthly rations from fair price shops. These benefits are reserved for the most vulnerable sections of society under the National Food Security Act.
Commissioner of Food and Civil Supplies, Karamveer Sharma, explained the methodology to TOI. The department collaborated with the Income Tax department to cross-verify the PDS database with ITR filings. "After field verification, all such names were removed," Sharma stated. Furthermore, data from the Registrar of Companies was scrutinized, leading to the identification of the ineligible company directors. While some were genuine cases like members of self-help groups, district-level checks confirmed the large-scale misuse.
Cleaning the System and Making Room for the Needy
The massive clean-up has had a positive flip side. The removal of these ineligible beneficiaries has opened the door for 14 lakh eligible families who were on the waiting list due to exhausted quotas. These genuinely needy households can now finally access the government's food security schemes. "This verification was extremely important. Due to the presence of ineligible persons, many needy families were on the waiting list and were unable to access govt schemes," Commissioner Sharma emphasized.
The state has also strengthened the system's integrity through technological measures. 94% of beneficiaries are now Aadhaar-authenticated via biometric KYC, placing Madhya Pradesh among the top five states in the country for PDS biometric compliance. To ensure transparency and prevent leakages, an SMS-based tracking system alerts beneficiaries at every stage—from the dispatch of foodgrains from warehouses to their issuance at fair price shops, along with Point of Sale (POS) receipts.
Next Steps for a Leak-Proof PDS
The government plans to introduce further safeguards. The next phase involves linking electronic weighing machines with POS devices at ration shops. This integration will enable real-time monitoring of the exact quantity of grains dispensed, effectively preventing any manipulation or short-weighing. This move aims to ensure that every gram of the subsidized food grain reaches the intended beneficiary without any pilferage.
Madhya Pradesh currently has 1.31 crore ration cards under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Household (PHH/BPL) categories, covering beneficiaries from nearly 28 eligible categories entitled to free foodgrains. The recent drive underscores the state's commitment to streamlining welfare delivery and ensuring that social security nets serve their true purpose.
