As of January 31, over 20,000 government employees in Odisha have surrendered their ration cards, according to Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra. Notably, more than 8,000 of these submissions occurred in just the last two days.
This announcement follows the minister’s warning about punitive measures against ineligible beneficiaries. On January 23, Patra revealed that each block in Odisha’s 30 districts had around 200 to 300 ineligible individuals holding ration cards, many of whom were government employees with stable incomes.
The state government identified a significant number of illegal ration card holders and set a deadline of January 31 for them to surrender their cards. The minister assured that those who comply would not face issues, but strict action would be taken against those who fail to do so.
According to the National Food Security Act (NFSA), individuals earning ₹15,000 or more per month are deemed ineligible for ration cards and must return them to the government.
Additionally, the minister noted that the e-KYC process for obtaining ration cards in Odisha will be finalized soon. Eligible beneficiaries will be identified afterward, while those holding cards illegally will face consequences.
Additionally: Odisha Launches ‘Bikashita Gaon Bikashita Odisha’ Scheme: Key Features and Funding Details
