12,000 inactive ration cards to be cancelled in East Singhbhum district

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, August 9: In a move to streamline its public distribution system, East Singhbhum district in Jharkhand is set to cancel approximately 12,000 ration cards belonging to individuals who have not collected their rations for six months or more. This decision affects green ration cards issued under both the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the State Food Security Scheme, primarily in urban areas including Jamshedpur NAC, Golmuri cum Jugsalai, Jugsalai Municipal Council, and Mango Municipal Corporation.

The issue came to light through the district’s online monitoring system for food grain distribution from Public Distribution System (PDS) shops. PDS dealers with low distribution percentages were issued show-cause notices on the orders of the East Singhbhum District Commissioner, leading to the recommendation for cancellation of these inactive cards.

District officials have clarified that cardholders with valid reasons for not collecting rations can apply for reconsideration. These applications will be reviewed, and ration cards may be reissued, subject to the availability of quota vacancies in the district. It’s worth noting that a significant number of these ration cards were issued during the Covid-19 pandemic, suggesting a possible correlation with the unusual circumstances of that period.

The district administration is also considering the possibility of migration as a factor in the non-collection of rations. To ascertain the exact situation, physical verification of each cardholder’s residence may be necessary. Salman Zafar Khijri, District Supply Officer of East Singhbhum, highlighted that while 95% of ration distribution is occurring smoothly in rural areas, the urban areas are seeing a notable decline in collection, affecting the district’s overall distribution percentage.