Will Odisha cancel ration cards of those filing I-T returns? Supplies Minister clarifies

In a major announcement, the Odisha government has announced a rigorous verification exercise aimed at ration card holders, which includes those who have filed income tax returns. 

Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Tuesday revealed that officials will conduct door-to-door checks using a predetermined list to ascertain eligibility for ration cards. This means that ration cards of holders who have filed IT returns will not be deleted as of now.

“We had received a complaint that those who have filed Income Tax return, their ration cards have been cancelled. I want to clear that a physical verification will done by the officials will conduct door-to-door inspection. The poor people will definitely get ration cards and ineligible names will be struck off,” said Patra.

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Eligibility Checks and Criteria

The Minister has ordered that the verification will check whether individuals’ incomes exceed specific limits. Rural households earning above Rs 10,000 and urban households with incomes over Rs 15,000 per month may face cancellation of their ration cards.

Minister Patra assured that these measures are designed to target only non-eligible holders and confirmed that officials have been briefed to safeguard genuine beneficiaries. 

“We want that the people, who are not falling into the above criteria, should surrender their ration cards so that only eligible beneficiaries get the benefits,” the Minister added.

Recourse for Mistaken Cancellations

In instances where ration cards are inaccurately cancelled, the concerned ration cardholders are encouraged to contact the relevant department. Following investigation, their cards may be reinstated if found eligible, the Minister assured.

Officials have been tasked with ensuring fairness and accuracy throughout this verification process, protecting the entitlements of eligible families across the state, Patra added.