Hyderabad, March 25: In order to streamline ration cards in the city, the Civil Supplies department has decided to weed out nearly one lakh white ration cards in the next few days. But the move has already triggered widespread concern that genuine cases might come under the axe of the authorities.
After completing a door-todoor survey, the officials found that out of seven lakh cardholders in the city, one lakh families were ineligible but had been drawing groceries.
Officials in the Chief Rationing Office (CRO), Hyderabad, said that 19,555 cardholders out of the total cards proposed to be removed, were found to be permanent migrants.
Another shocking finding of the survey is that some white-card holders were staying in multi-storied buildings with cars and bikes parked in their houses. As per the norms, a white rationcard holder should not even have an LPG connection.
Weeding out of ration cards has turned into a statewide controversy. The issue came under severe criticism during Tuesday’s cabinet meeting and several ministers had expressed their displeasure over the process, it is learnt. In order to hear complaints on scrapping of cards, district officials have formed an appellate division committee to be chaired by the local corporator. As a second appellate authority, another committee will be in place and it will be chaired by the local MLA.
“The details of all the cardholders found ineligible will be displayed at the ration shops and the local civil supplies offices concerned,” Hyderabad CRO Lokesh Kumar said.
The aggrieved persons can approach the corporator and prove their eligibility before the division committee.
“The committee, however, can only recommend to the civil supplies officials to reissue the ration cards to those it deems eligible. Our officials will re-verify the aggrieved person’s details and take a decision. Still, if a person is denied a card, he can approach the second appellate,” Lokesh Kumar said.
Officials expect 50 percent of the scrapped cardholders to approach appellate committees.
–Agencies