Many people in our country are financially incapable and cannot even afford two meals a day. In such dire circumstances, the Government of India provides them with free rations and subsidized rations under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). A ration card is mandatory to avail of these benefits.
Recently, a large number of names have been removed from ration cards. The government’s objective is clear: to remove from the system those who do not meet the eligibility criteria but were still enjoying the benefits of the cards. Investigations revealed that in many places, rations were being drawn in the names of deceased individuals for years.
To prevent this misuse, verification has been intensified, and ineligible cards are being continuously removed. According to government data, the government has removed over 22.5 million names from the free ration scheme in the past few months.
Main reasons for ineligibility and government action
This strict action has been taken against those who did not meet the eligibility criteria set out under the NFSA. Ministry officials say that benefits should only reach the truly needy. Therefore, records are now being re-examined in every state to ensure that only genuine beneficiaries remain in the system.
The investigation revealed that many people had obtained ration cards solely to benefit from government schemes. Some were also found to have not received rations for six months, leading to the assumption that they did not have a genuine need for them. Due to these irregularities, the government is preparing to remove such families from the PDS (Public Distribution System) list.
How to Check Ration Card Status Online from Home
If you suspect that your name may have been removed from the list, it’s very easy to verify.
The online verification process is as follows:
Go to the official website of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), nfsa.gov.in.
Select the ‘Ration Card’ option.
Click on ‘Ration Card Details on State Portals’.
Select your state, district, block, and panchayat.
Then select your ration shop and card type.
A list will then open. If your name is on this list, your ration card is active. If not, it means your name has been removed from the list. It’s also very important to remember that e-KYC has now been made mandatory. Cards whose e-KYC is not updated will be deactivated first. Therefore, ensure that your e-KYC is complete.