Multipurpose use of ration cards hits needy
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JULY 6
For a common man ration card has multiple usage! Very often it is traded as a social document even as the Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (CSCA) abhors the practice.
“We have intimated all departments of the government not to insist on ration cards as a social document as it can be used only for purchasing ration from a fair price shop,” says CSCA Director Gurudas Pilarnkar.
The department has started generating awareness among people that ration cards can’t be used as social document. The message is also printed on the ration card. Pilarnkar said, “During consumer meetings we tell people that ration cards cannot be used for any other purpose than what it is meant for.”
But people continue to use ration cards for other purposes as most government departments consider them as one of the important social documents.
Immediate fallout of this practice is people continue to apply for ration cards not because they want to stake claims to their share of ration but to use it as a social document.
“If this practice is stopped, at least, genuine and needy people will get more ration,” pointed out Pilarnkar.
Total quota of foot grains received from the Centre is distributed equally among total card holders. But in reality, many do not purchase their share of ration.
It’s only when the practice (of using ration cards as multi-purpose social document) ceases, there could be fair distribution of ration quota among genuine ration card holders.
The number of ration cards has gone up even as ration quota received by the civil supplies department has remained static. There are 3,54,000 ration card holders in the State. “If people stop using ration card for other purposes genuine ration holders will get more ration,” Pilarnkar added.
