The State Government has decided to issue new ration cards to consumers, which would be effective from September 1, 2015. “New cards will be supplied to consumers at Rs 10 each from July 25 to August 15 through Gram Sabhas and other special programmes,” said Food Supply and Consumer Welfare secretary Madhusudan Padhi. Padhi said all district Collectors have been informed about the decision taken as per the Central guidelines under the Food Security Act (FSA). He said earlier decision of three-phase identification of beneficiaries has been changed.
“As per the revised decision, distribution of ration cards will begin in the State after the process of identification of beneficiaries in Bhubaneswar block and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is completed,” he informed. The Secretary said since implementation of the Food Security Act depends on identification of beneficiaries and preparation of new ration cards, State’s 30 districts have been divided into 10 units with average population of 41 lakh. Selection of beneficiaries would begin from January next year, he added.
“Application registration centres will be opened at the panchayat and ward levels and the applications would be verified by Gram Rojgar Sevaks. The Collectors have been asked to complete this process by December 25,” Padhi said. He said the list of beneficiaries would be published between March 10 and May 15 in all districts and the verification would be held between March 16 and May 31. The final list of beneficiaries and their Aadhaar card numbers would be uploaded in the department’s website by June-end, Padhi informed.