Post-scam,2.5 lakh ration cards now under scrutiny

The Dahod district administration has given 10 days notice to all Fair Price Shop owners to submit the details of 2.5 lakh biometric ration card holders.

The Dahod district administration has given 10 days notice to all Fair Price Shop (FPS) owners to submit the details of 2.5 lakh biometric ration card holders.

This comes after a scam was unearthed in the Public Distribution System in Panchmahals district,where 1.1 lakh bogus ration cards were found during a scrutiny recently. FPS owners have been increasingly making fake cards to get subsidised essential food supplies,according to District Supply Office.

The state government has asked all the districts to submit details of ration cards for scrutiny,which will be done by comparing the data with electoral rolls. We have given notice to 10 FPS owners in the district, said Dahod District Collector J M Lohni.

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Officials will also conduct a ground survey of these cards. Immediate action would be taken against the fair price shop owners if they fail to furnish details. Complaints would be lodged under the Essential Supply and Management Act, said an official from the DSO.

Last month,the Panchmahals district administration had cracked down on 10 FPS owners after names of 1.1 lakh biometric ration card holders did not match with the electoral rolls.

Ground survey indicated that fake documents were used to fill up these forms for over a period of three years. Later,the district administration lodged police cases against the accused FPS owners,and a fine of Rs 4.56 crore was levied on them.

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