PANJIM, SEP 22
The Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (CSCA) has planned a drive from October 14 to check bogus ration cards in circulation and has appealed cardholders to surrender the same within two weeks.
Gurudas Pilarnkar, Director of CSCA speaking to Herald on Wednesday said the action has been initiated in pursuant to Supreme Court direction to the Union Ministry.
The department will also take action against those holding bogus ration cards and it has already found 87000 bogus ration cards, he said.
In 2007, it conducted an exercise wherein all ration cards were re-registered and, accordingly 4,41,000 ration cards were prepared as per declarations submitted to the department. However, only 354000 cards were actually collected and balance 87000 are still lying with the department.
“We had announced that ration card will be handed over only to a family member whose name is reflected in the ration card and upon signing the registrar to avoid any misuse,” said Pilarnkar giving probable reason why so many ration cards were never collected. The department has now treated all those 87000 ration cards as bogus. Though the department had carried out re-registration in 2007, it suspects there are more bogus ration cards in circulation and wants to have house-to-house survey from October 14 to check usage of illegal ration cards.
