Ration cards will give way to smart cards in state

In an effort to check the growing menace of bogus ration cards and diversion of food grains from fair price shops,the state government has proposed to introduce unique smart cards that will replace the traditional ration cards across the state.

In an effort to check the growing menace of bogus ration cards and diversion of food grains from fair price shops,the state government has proposed to introduce unique smart cards that will replace the traditional ration cards across the state.

The state Science and Technology Department has been asked to design the system for the proposed smart cards,based on biometric system. The smart cards will be prepared under

the Gujarat ration card computerisation system,evolved by the State Food and Civil Supplies department.

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Rajesh Kishore,Principal Secretary (Food and Civil Supplies),told Newsline on Thursday that his department was busy doing the digitisation of ration cards at present,with about 90 per cent of the work is already over.

The digitisation of ration cards has been undertaken in the first phase under the project. As soon as this exercise is over,we will take up the smart card preparation work in the second phase, he said.

The smart cards,which will be issued to ration card holders falling under the below poverty line (BPL),above poverty line (APL) and Antyodaya (poorest of the poor) categories,will contain all necessary details like names of the card holders and their family members,addresses,contact numbers,blood group and private account numbers.

The move will certainly help us check the increasing number of fake ration cards,and also curb the illegal practice of diverting food grains and other essential commodities by fair price shop owners to open market, Kishore added.

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Of the total 1.20 crore ration card holders in the state,about 26 lakh belong to BPL families,while over 8.14 lakh fall under the Antyodaya category. The remaining card holders belong to APL families.

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Ration cards will give way to smart cards in state

In an effort to check the growing menace of bogus ration cards and diversion of food grains from fair price shops,the state government has proposed to introduce unique smart cards that will replace the traditional ration cards across the state.

In an effort to check the growing menace of bogus ration cards and diversion of food grains from fair price shops,the state government has proposed to introduce unique smart cards that will replace the traditional ration cards across the state.