New Delhi, Nov 6 (UNI) About 4.39 crore bogus ration cards have been weeded out since 2013 for rightful targeting of beneficiaries under NFSA-Department of Food and Public Distribution, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said here on Friday.
'As part technology-driven PDS reforms across the country to modernise the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and to improve the transparency and efficiency in its operations through digitization of ration cards/beneficiaries databases, Aadhaar seeding, detection of ineligible/bogus ration cards, de-duplication of digitised data, migration/deaths of beneficiaries and during the run-up to the implementation of NFSA, a total of about 4.39 Crore ineligible/bogus ration cards have been weeded out in the country during the period 2013 to 2020, so far, by the State/UT Governments,' the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said in a statement.
Further, the respective quota of NFSA coverage thus released, is being regularly utilised by concerned State/UT for the 'Rightful Targeting' of beneficiaries under NFSA i.e. inclusion/addition of other genuine and rightfully eligible beneficiaries/households by issuing new ration cards to them, while remaining within the respective ceiling limits of coverage defined for each States/UT under the Act.