The district administration has made all necessary arrangements to launch an 11-day long ration card verification drive which began here on Monday.
District Collector Rajesh Sukumar Toppo said that the ration card verification drive will be taken up as a step towards better implementation of Chhattisgarh Food and Nutrition Security Act, 2012. He said that only ‘families’ can obtain the ration cards to avail its benefits.
“A ‘family’ constitutes husband-wife, their children and the dependents living in the same house and sharing the same kitchen. If some members of family separate only to obtain the ration cards, they will not be eligible for the same” explained Toppo.
The Collector added that those who are not eligible for availing the benefits of ration cards, should surrender the same or appropriate action will be taken against them under Food and supplies related to the Essential Commodities Act–1955.
The officer maintained that Government employees coming in Grade-III or senior level, those working in the municipality or any other local Government offices are not eligible to obtain the ration card.
Besides, owners of the house spread in an area of 1000 square ft area or above, farmers having 10 acres or above of irrigated land or having 20 acres or above of barren farmland in rural areas are not eligible to receive ration cards.
The Collector added that the ineligible ration card holders will not be able to avail any of its benefit from July 1 this year. The officer added that the State government has decided to give 10 kg free food grains every month on ration cards of single-member destitute families and verify other single-member ration cards to include them in the main family ration cards.