Srinagar: The Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department has warned those in Kashmir who are economically sound but still hold Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards, such as government employees and pensioners, to give up their cards or face repercussions.
FCS&CA authorities found that many ineligible families held Priority Household (PHH) ration cards, commonly known as BPL, during the re-verification of ration cards. This enabled them to collect severely discounted ration supplies against the law and steal money for the State exchequer.
The PHH ration cards enable the holder to save money by purchasing up to 5 kg of food grains per family member each month.
Rice costs Rs 3 per kg, wheat costs Rs 2 per kg, and coarse grains cost Rs 1 per kg for PHH ration card members.
PDS now covers 97.53 lakh beneficiaries and 24.92 lakh households in Jammu and Kashmir.
57,29,395 of these 14,33,024 PHH ration card holders are recipients.
Director of FS&CA Kashmir, Riyaz Ahmad, said in a statement to Greater Kashmir that “we have issued an ultimatum to government employees, pensioners, and economically sound persons who have PHH ration cards to surrender them at the earliest opportunity or else we will take strong action against them.”
When asked what action will be done against them, the director replied:
“We will purchase food grains at a low cost and blacklist them in order to recoup the cost of the subsidy they have received,” he said.
Several complaints have been made, according to a senior FCS&CA official, that BPL ration cards have been acquired even by government personnel earning decent wages.
“During our verification last month, we found a family that obtained a BPL ration card despite the fact that their father was a pensioner and his three kids all worked for the government. It is not an isolated incident. There are thousands of similar situations where ineligible people possess BPL ration cards, the speaker said.
Through a number of instructions and circulars, the FCS&CA Department in J&K has requested that the government remove AAY, PHH, and BPL ration card holders who have been ineligible beneficiaries for the last two years.
According to officials, the administration moved 6413 out of 6735 Point-of-Sale (PoS) devices to online status in order to strengthen accountability and promote openness. This improved the distribution process.
In order to better serve areas with patchy internet connection, 322 PoS devices were also converted to offline mode.
The distribution process has been accelerated by this technologically enhanced method, which has also reduced the likelihood of fraud and ensured real-time monitoring.
“Since over 94 percent of PDS transactions are now carried out online, beneficiaries must provide an Aadhaar verification code in order to get their benefits. The beneficiaries have greater control and convenience thanks to this technology, which also lessens the need for human engagement. The identification technique has also made it easier to track the flow of food grains, leading to efficient supply management, the official added.
