Multiple ration cards in many Kangra families

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, September 14

After the detection of a large number of fake BPL/IRDP beneficiaries in the state, it has come to light that in many families, every member has ration cards to get various benefits of state and Central schemes.

Information gathered by The Tribune revealed that in many cases, all members in families possessed ration cards with the help of local panchayats and were getting free LPG cylinder with gas stove under the Ujjwala Yojna or the CM Grihini Yojna. This scheme had been extended till December 2020. Besides, the ration card holders were also receiving subsidised foodgrains.

During a visit to various panchayats in Sulah, Baijnath, Palampur and Jaisinghpur, it has come to the fore that in many cases, mother or father has been shown separate from the family by their sons for separate ration cards despite the fact they are living in joint families. In one case, a mother was shown living separately by her two sons, who are government employees.

In a panchayat in Sulah, there are 100 families availing the benefits of the BPL, the IRDP and Antodya despite the fact that most of them are having cemented houses, agriculture land and government jobs. Most of them have multiple ration cards.

Similar is the situation in Aima, Bindravan, Khalet, Banuri and other panchyats adjoining Palampur where many persons of a family have separate ration cards.

Panchrukhi, Bhawarna and Sulah BDOs said ration cards were made on the recommendations of panchayat pardhans and ward members by the Food Supply Department and they had no check on it . If wrong or multiple rations cards had been issued, it was the responsibility of panchayat pradhans. The matter had come to his notice and he would convey it to the higher authorities.