Addressing Ration Card Misuse
The Odisha government has taken a significant step toward ensuring food security for the most deserving citizens by urging ineligible ration cardholders to surrender their cards voluntarily. Over the years, discrepancies in the Public Distribution System (PDS) led to cases where individuals who did not meet the eligibility criteria continued to receive subsidized food grains. To rectify this, the government reopened the online portal for ration card applications while simultaneously appealing to ineligible beneficiaries—such as income tax payers and government employees—to return their cards.
80,000 Cards Surrendered, 4 Lakh Ghost Beneficiaries Removed
According to Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra, 80,000 ineligible beneficiaries, including 4,500 government employees, have voluntarily surrendered their ration cards. The government has also successfully eliminated 4 lakh ghost ration cardholders—fictitious entries that were inflating the system.
“This is a big success as people are returning their cards willingly,” said Minister Patra, adding that 3,000 to 4,000 ineligible individuals continue to surrender their cards daily. He reassured that no action would be taken against those who return their cards voluntarily.
Ensuring Food Security for the Needy
With the removal of ineligible beneficiaries, the government is making way for more deserving families to access essential food supplies. Patra urged eligible applicants under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS) to take advantage of the reopened application portal.
Currently, 6 lakh applications are in the pipeline, and officials anticipate an additional 4 lakh new applications from those who genuinely qualify for the benefits.
What’s Next?
As the verification process continues, the government remains focused on making the ration distribution system more transparent and efficient. With the portal reopened, genuine beneficiaries now have a better chance of securing food assistance. Meanwhile, authorities will continue monitoring the system to prevent misuse and ensure that subsidies reach those who truly need them.
The success of this initiative will depend on sustained public cooperation and a robust verification process to prevent future discrepancies in ration distribution.
(With inputs from agencies)
