Hyderabad, Sept.19 (NSS): Forum for Good Governance president M. Padmanabha Reddy has written a letter to Uttam Kumar, Minister for Irrigation & Civil Supplies, about the P.D.S issue of new ration cards and made certain suggestions.
He stated that the Forum for Good Governance appreciated the minister for his novel move to initiate consultation process to formulate eligibility criteria and modalities for issue of new ration cards. In this regard, he made some suggestions. He said as per the minister’s press briefing, there are close to 90 lakh ration cards covering a population of 2.84 crore both Union and State government.
The population of Telangana is close to four crore. According NITI Ayog report, 3.74% of population of Telangana are multi-dimensional poor. Further various survey reports say that close to 20% of people of Telangana are Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. It means 20% of 4 crore population need food security through Public Distribution System (PDS).
If the BPL criteria is applied only 80 lakh people require free rice as against the present 2.84crores people. Nearly 2 crore ineligible people are in possession of ration cards. These 2 crores people drawing 6 Kgs of rice free, amounts to 12crore Kgs of rice and in monetary terms 600 crores of leakage is taking place per month due to issue of bogus cards. Bogus ration cards to be eliminated by intensive house to house survey.
For political gains the previous Government has issued large scale ration cards almost covering 75% of the state’s population. The present Government should stop this un-ethical practice and restrict the issue of ration cards to B.P.L. families only. The poor families also should be given one kg dhal and one litre cooking oil along with free rice to improve their livelihood. Most of the PDS beneficiaries dispose of the rice at cheap rate to brokers who supply it is poultries and sometimes re-polished and sell to road side eateries for preparing Idlis and so on.
The statement of the minister that from January 2025 onwards, fine quality rice will be supplied through PDS is welcome. To sum up the immediate task is to weed out the cards in the possession of ineligible families. Every month Rs 600 crore of Tax payer’s money is squandered. F.G.G requests the minister to weed out the cards in possession of ineligible persons than issue smart cards.
