Firm On Weeding Out Bogus Ration Cards: Etela

Even as the Opposition parties are making a hue and cry over the Telangana government's move to scrap some ration cards on the grounds of their being bogus, those at the helm of affairs reiterated their resolve to remove even more bogus cards and offer cards to genuine beneficiaries to enable the latter get food supplies at subsidies, in a bid to strengthen the Public Distribution System (PDS) across the state.

Addressing a review meeting of Joint Collectors at the Marri Channa Reddy Human Resources Development Center here on Friday, Finance Minister Etela Rajender asked the former to plug the loopholes in the system that were inviting rebuke from various sections.

So far 54,000 fake and duplicate ration cards had been confiscated from the Ranga Reddy district, he said, adding that biometric processes were being implemented on a pilot basis to check duplication in the Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts, and that these processes would to be expanded to the entire state in phases.

"We are in favor of only genuinely deserving people getting rations from the PDS - not the well-to-do and ineligible. There is no need for panic among the eligible people for the essentials they need from the PDS," he said.

He announced that new ration cards (Rs 6 each) would be given to eligible people from the next month. The Joint Collectors in the districts should ensure that those who qualify were not deprived of the facility, he said.

He also asked the JCs to conduct timely checks for corruption and irregularities.

"Let the PDS adopt modern systems to ensure transparency. Else we will not be able to reach our target of offer essential supplies to the poor," he stated.