Ludhiana: Over 34,000 ‘silent' beneficiaries to be removed from free ration scheme
According to officials, these beneficiaries have not availed their entitled free ration for over a year, putting them at risk of exclusion from the public distribution system under the Centre's 'One Nation One Ration Card' (ONORC) scheme. The initiative aims to eliminate bogus and ineligible beneficiaries, ensuring transparency in ration distribution.
According to a notification issued by the Central government on March 17, 2023, all states and Union Territories were directed to launch a 100% e-KYC campaign at fair price shops under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The move is aimed to create space for the creation of new ration cards after weeding out the bogus one.
According to data, there are a total 86,875 beneficiaries in Ludhiana district that fall under the 'silent' category, those who have not availed their ration in recent months. Among them, 34,798 individuals have remained inactive for over a year, while another 52,077 have not claimed their entitlement for a period ranging from six months to a year.
With these figures, Ludhiana ranks highest in the state, accounting for a staggering 23% of Punjab's 3.72 lakh silent ration card holders.
A senior official from the district food and civil supplies department said that the cases of these inactive card holders have been under scrutiny as part of an ongoing verification drive.
'Many of them are suspected to have obtained ration cards for the sole purpose of availing other welfare benefits such as Ayushman cards, without ever collecting subsidised foodgrains. In some cases, beneficiaries have relocated and no longer reside in the district,' the official added.
Meanwhile, to prevent wrongful exclusion, the department has initiated efforts to reach out to such beneficiaries, urging them to complete their e-KYC before July 15. If they fail to do so, then it will result in their ration cards being frozen, and they will be barred from receiving the quarterly wheat allocation which is 15 kg per person, officials said.
When contacted, Sartaaj Singh Cheema, district food supplies controller (Ludhiana West), confirmed the development. 'Beneficiaries who have not availed their free ration for more than a year are likely to be excluded from subsidised wheat allocation for the July to September quarter. However, no such action will be taken against those whose inactivity ranges between six months to a year,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
17 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Residents struggle to reach temple on Shivratri due to waterlogged road in Gurugram
Residents and devotees in Rajendra Park, Sector 105, Gurugram, were forced to wade through stagnant, filthy water to offer prayers on the occasion of Shivratri on Wednesday, as the area outside the shrine in Block C remained waterlogged due to persistent sewer overflow and rainwater accumulation. The waterlogged street due to sewer overflow at block-C Rajendra Park near Shiv Mandir, Gurugram on Wednesday. (HT Photo) Women and elderly devotees could be seen navigating the dirty water, trying to keep themselves dry while reaching the steps of the temple. The waterlogged street raised serious concerns about hygiene and public health. 'Shivratri is a sacred day for us, and yet we are forced to walk through sewer water to reach the temple,' said a local woman who came to offer prayers early in the morning. Pushpa Devi, 50, a local resident said, 'Every year we celebrate Shivratri here. Women fast, pray, and offer water to Lord Shiva. But today, we had to walk through sewage to reach the temple. It feels heartbreaking. This is not just about inconvenience — it feels like we are disrespecting our own faith because of the condition we are in. No one should have to walk barefoot in this dirty water.' The problem is not new to the area. As reported earlier by residents through their complaints to MCG, they have been dealing with sewer line blockages and waterlogging for over six months. Complaints have been filed with the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG), but no permanent solution has been provided so far. After the recent rains, the condition worsened, leaving several parts of the area waterlogged for days. The stagnant water has led many residents to consider shifting homes or leaving the locality altogether. 'Government promises are only on paper. This is not the first time we're facing this. Every monsoon, the same story repeats — dirty water collects outside our homes, making life miserable. Children fall sick, and elders can't even step outside. Now people are seriously thinking about moving out. Even festivals don't bring happiness anymore when we can't even reach our temple without stepping in sewage,' said Tulsi Ram Sharma, a long-time resident of the area. When asked about the issue, Sunder Sheoran, executive engineer, MCG, said, 'Our machines and teams have already been deployed for dewatering the area. The issue is linked to the sewage system. At night, the water gets drained, but it returns again during peak hours in the morning. We have already floated a tender for desilting the main line. Work is also ongoing on the main sewer lines that connect to the STP (Sewage Treatment Plant). A permanent solution is in progress.' Residents have once again appealed to the authorities for urgent and permanent measures to resolve the issue.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
Ajmer Dargah's 'no liability' notice draws flak from Muslim groups
Ajmer dargah AJMER: A public notice issued by the nazim (chief executive officer) of Ajmer Dargah disowning responsibility for accidents caused by dilapidated structures within the shrine complex, has triggered widespread anger among Muslim organisations and the community's religious heads. The notice, dated July 21, was pasted inside Dargah premises, warning devotees to avoid old or structurally weak buildings that may collapse during heavy rains. It stated, "In case of any accident or untoward incident, the individual will be solely responsible. The nazim office will not accept any legal liability." The language and tone of the notice have been condemned by organisations from Delhi to Hyderabad, including the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, All India Muslim Council and the Muslim Progressive Front (Rajasthan). Several groups have demanded an immediate withdrawal of the notice and called on the ministry of minority affairs to launch an inquiry into the matter. TOI texted and called Nazim Bilal Khan for a statement, but received no response. The Ajmer Dargah Committee functions under the ministry of minority affairs and the episode has renewed calls for greater accountability, transparency and professional oversight in the management of India's major religious heritage sites. Sohail Khandwani, managing trustee of Haji Ali and Mahim Dargah in Mumbai, who is currently overseeing renovation work at Haji Ali, expressed dismay: "I came across the letter. I was shocked to learn that the nazim hasn't even identified which buildings are structurally unsafe, nor have any warning signs been placed. Simply issuing a letter will spark fear among devotees." The Dargah receives 20,000 devotees on normal days, which jumps up to a lakh on Thursdays and Fridays. Syed Nadeem Hasan Nizami, chief in-charge of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya Dargah in Delhi, called the notice a "hallmark of shamelessness and administrative negligence." He said, "Asking devotees to survey the complex, identify weak structures and then decide whether to proceed with ziyarat (visit the shrine) is absurd. What exactly is the Dargah nazim's role then? He should resign. I appeal to PM Narendra Modi to appoint qualified professionals with experience in management, auditing and public safety. " The notice follows incidents of roof collapse and water seepage in at least three mosques within the Dargah complex in the past week.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
No bridge, kids wade across dangerous nullah to reach school in Himachal village
Due to the absence of a bridge on the Banni Mata Nullah in Bharmour of Chamba district, schoolchildren put their lives in danger to reach their school everyday. The situation is so bad that when the nullah overflows during monsoon, parents have to carry their wards on their backs to take them to the school. Due to the absence of a bridge on the Banni Mata Nullah in Bharmour of Chamba district, schoolchildren put their lives in danger to reach their school everyday. (HT Photo) Due to sudden water flow in the nullah on Wednesday, the locals made the children cross the water body by carrying them on their backs. The children from villages Banni and Bhadra cross the nullah daily to reach Mandha School in Bharmour. Banni Mata Nullah is a stream near Banni Mata Temple, an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Kali, located in Chamba district. The students of Mandha School of Bharmour are daily risking their lives to cross the nullah to reach the school. More than 25 students attend the Mandha Senior Secondary School by crossing this nullah, the water levels of which rises even after a light rain. Local residents say they have raised the issue several times and demanded construction of a bridge across the nullah, but it is turned down each time due to paucity of funds. Ward panch Ramesh Kumar said that they have been demanding construction of the bridge for a long time but nothing has been done so far. He said that the devotees who visit Banni Mata temple also have to cross the nullah. 'For the last two years I have been pushing for the construction of the bridge on the nullah but nothing has moved on the ground for lack of funds. The tenders have already been allotted but citing lack of funds the PWD department and local administration is not paying any heed,' said Janak Raj, a local MLA. Education minister Rohit Thakur said, 'The safety of the children is paramount. The issue has been brought to my notice and we will ensure the work of the construction of the bridge is done at the earliest.' Retaining wall of school collapses in Shimla About 65 students of a primary school in Kasumpti area in the suburbs of Shimla were shifted to a nearby community centre after the retaining wall of the school collapsed on Wednesday.
