Odisha Warns Ineligible Ration Card Holders

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra has appealed to ineligible beneficiaries to surrender their ration cards immediately to avoid strict action.

The appeal comes after an e-KYC verification process revealed that several high-income individuals, including government officials, doctors, and OAS officers, had fraudulently availed ration cards meant for economically weaker sections.

“During verification, it was found that income taxpayers and high-income group individuals were beneficiaries under food security schemes. I urge them to return the ration cards at the earliest,” the minister said.

He warned that those who fail to surrender the cards voluntarily would face penalties. The government plans to recover the benefits availed by these individuals, with fines imposed from the date of issuance of the ration cards.

“Those who acquired these cards through fraudulent means will be identified and excluded from the beneficiary list. By returning the cards now, they can avoid further penalties,” the minister stated.

The Minister also disclosed that approximately 4 lakh ineligible individuals had availed ration cards during the tenure of the previous government. The move aims to ensure that deserving poor beneficiaries receive the intended benefits under the food security schemes.

Related Articles

Back to top button