Srinagar - The Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCSCA) of Jammu and Kashmir has strongly refuted claims circulating on social media about the cancellation of approximately 1.5 lakh Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards, stating these assertions are 'totally fabricated' and based on false assumptions. The controversy erupted following the release of a video alleging the government had issued orders canceling the BPL ration cards, potentially endangering countless families' livelihoods.
According to official sources, the cancellation figure mentioned does not even align with the more accurate number reported by Parliament, which indicated the deletion of 1.27 lakh fake and duplicate ration cards. Interestingly, these deletions were part of larger reforms initiated back in 2013, aimed at the identification and elimination of fraudulent beneficiaries across the nation.
The FCSCA explained the necessity of verifying ration cards under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) Control Order of the Government of India. To bolster these verification efforts, the department has employed various technological interventions, such as Aadhaar seeding, electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) processes, and field verification. These initiatives led to massive duplicates being detected and purged from the system over the years.
Recent efforts by the department have also resulted in adding approximately 8.6 lakh eligible beneficiaries to the PDS since September 2022, when the updated Ration Card Management System was put in place. This change has allowed for improved tracking and inclusion of beneficiaries to receive their entitled rations without delay.
To clarify, the only recent order issued by the FCSCA pertains to the inclusion of children born between 2011 and 2016 on their family ration cards. This measure aims to extend benefits to these younger beneficiaries, ensuring their families receive adequate nutritional support according to PDS eligibility.
The department emphasized its commitment to proactively incorporate any eligible beneficiary still left out under the PDS wherever reported. Continued monitoring has shown progress, with the number of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) increasing from 66.37 lakh to 66.59 lakh within the past three months.
Political reactions have been swift, especially from the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP), which has seized the opportunity to criticize the government and its decisions. PDP leader Iltija Mufti accused the ruling administration, led by Omar Abdullah, of depriving BPL families of their rights to subsidized rations. She pointed out, 'If you cannot provide anything to people, then do not snatch either. You have at least cancelled 1.5 lakh ration cards. Each ration card has at least six family members. You are witnessing the number of families getting affected.'
These tensions stem from broader issues of food security and access to resources for economically disadvantaged families. The government has clarified its position, with every effort focused on ensuring deserving families remain under the PDS umbrella. The spokesperson reiterated the importance of technology-backed solutions to secure ration distribution and root out fraud, indicating their aim to maintain support for marginalized communities.
To provide additional perspective, the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, reported to the Rajya Sabha the deletion of over 5.87 crore fake ration cards nationwide as part of the digitization and re-verification process between 2013 and 2024. Notably, J&K accounts for 1,27,872 of these cancelled cards. This extensive cleanup is part of fulfilling the government's obligation to accurately target beneficiaries and prevent fraud.
Technological efforts have resulted in 99.8% of ration cards under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) being linked with Aadhaar numbers for households. The Minister stated, 'The outcome of identifying duplicates and weeding out the undeserving has been enabled through the digitization and thorough verification of beneficiary databases.'
Despite the controversy, the J&K government insists on safeguarding the interests of its citizens and ensuring nutritional security through the PDS. The FCSCA remains resolute, continuing to affirm its efforts to bring clarity and trust to the ration distribution system, protecting those genuinely entitled to assistance.
