Surrender ration cards or face action: Odisha Minister to ineligible beneficiaries

The Odisha government is trying to weed out corruption from the welfare schemes by identifying ineligible beneficiaries. There have been allegations that several taxpayers and other well-to-do families in Odisha have managed to acquire ration cards and have been availing of the benefits for years.

To put a check on such incidents, the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Wednesday issued a stern warning to such ineligible beneficiaries.

The Minister today stated that the ineligible beneficiaries should surrender their cards voluntarily before corrective and stringent action is taken.

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It has been alleged time and again that thousands of ration card holders across Odisha are not genuinely eligible for the subsidised provisions. These include individuals with stable incomes or those employed in government services, such as teachers and doctors. 

The Minister stressed that no penalty will be imposed on those who surrender their cards voluntarily before the completion of the e-KYC process. However, actions would be strictly taken against the others.

Also Read: e-KYC deadline set by Odisha for ration card; non-compliance to result in cancellation