Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: The Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs recently released a circular outlining how some government agencies are mistakenly requesting ration cards as identification or evidence of residency in order to grant access to different public services and benefits.
Due to this trend, more people are asking for ration cards just to fulfill these requirements, even when they have no intention of using the Fair Price Shops’ (FPS) Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) commodities.
“A document issued under an order or authority of the state government for the purchase of essential commodities from the Fair Price Shops under the Targeted Public Distribution System” is the definition of a ration card as per Section 2 (16) of the National Food Security Act, 2013.
Ration cards should not be used as identification or proof of residency, according to subclause 6 of clause 4 of the Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2015, which was issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.
All government agencies, businesses, and other entities are now subject to a new directive. They are told to stop using their ration cards as identification or residency documents.
Furthermore, it is urged that these organizations update their policies and eliminate any clauses that permit ration cards to be used to get government programs and public services. The goal of this approach is to stop ration cards from being misused.
