Pune:
The state government has decided to cancel 12.8 lakh invalid ration cards this year, and introduce biometric "smart cards" to replace them over a period of two years.
This was disclosed to media persons in Kolhapur on Saturday by the food and civil supplies minister, Anil Deshmukh. He said Kolhapur alone has 28,128 invalid ration cards.
According to Deshmukh, the ration cards have been cancelled for a variety of reasons, including incorrect addresses, misusing facilities meant for lower income categories and using cards of dead people. Seventeen officers from various districts have been suspended for allotting ration cards to foreign nationals.
Deshmukh asked individuals misusing ration cards meant for below the poverty line to surrender the cards by December 31. "If they fail to do so, criminal cases will be filed against them," he warned.
According to Deshmukh, data for the unique identity cards (UID) would be used for preparing the smart cards, which would replace the 2.5 crore ration cards in the state. These smart cards will have biometric features and can be used only by those whose names are stated on them.
"The computerisation of the public distribution service (PDS) will check black marketing of food grain," he said. Vehicles carrying PDS stocks will henceforth be painted green and equipped with a global positioning system (GPS).
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