A major scam has been uncovered in the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Raipur. Thousands of ration cards were found to be fraudulent, including those belonging to minors and individuals over 110 years old. The government incurred significant losses due to the use of duplicate Aadhaar numbers.
Raipur: An investigation by the Food Department has revealed major irregularities in the Public Distribution System. Thousands of ration cards have been fraudulently created, listing names of minors and individuals over 110 years of age. More than 86,000 cards were created using duplicate Aadhaar numbers. The department is now physically verifying these suspicious cards and canceling them. All beneficiaries have been urged to complete their e-KYC to prevent future misuse of cards and minimize losses to the government.
Ration Cards Fraudulently Created in Raipur
According to the Food Department's report, numerous ration cards in Raipur have been created illegally. This includes over 1,800 separate cards issued in the names of children under 18 years of age, which violates regulations. Additionally, 1,806 individuals over 110 years old are listed in ration cards across the state, with rations being claimed under their names for years.
The use of these cards was not limited to ration distribution; many beneficiaries also availed health schemes and other government facilities. The department stated that physical verification of these suspicious cards is now underway, and the process to cancel them has begun.
Use of Duplicate Aadhaar Numbers
The investigation also revealed that thousands of people obtained ration cards in different districts using duplicate Aadhaar numbers. Across the state, over 86,000 ration cards were created with duplicate Aadhaar numbers, with Raipur accounting for more than 18,000 of them.
Officials from the Food Department stated that this anomaly occurred due to increased movement of people in urban areas and the growth in the number of settlements. The department has warned that strict action will be taken to prevent such illegal cards.
e-KYC Mandatory for Beneficiaries
According to the Food Department's report, there are 1,05,590 ration cards in the state with inactive Aadhaar numbers. Furthermore, 83,872 members have not yet completed their e-KYC. Out of a total of 2.73 crore ration cardholders in the state, 2.27 crore people have completed their e-KYC, while e-KYC for 46.34 lakh people is still pending.
The department has urged all beneficiaries to complete e-KYC for all members aged five years and above as soon as possible. The 'Mera e-KYC' mobile app can be used for this purpose.
Ration Cards to be Canceled if Not Used for Six Months
The Food Department stated that if a beneficiary does not collect rations for six months, their card will be temporarily canceled. The card will only be reactivated after verification and e-KYC within three months.
The department also warned that regular monitoring and technical measures would be implemented to prevent such irregularities in the future. The department believes that timely e-KYC and digital tracking can make the ration distribution system transparent and fault-free.
