Panji, Sep 16 (TNN): Exposing yet another scam, the Pilerne citizens' forum (PCF) revealed that fake ration cards are being used in Goa to obtain Aadhaar cards. The forum complained that these bogus Aadhaar cards would in turn result in ineligible persons taking advantage of government schemes by depriving the needy and draining precious resources of the state.

The PCF has already notified the central government about the dubious practice of using bogus ration cards.

PCF legal advisor, Yatish Naik, met Nidhi Khare, advisor to the planning commision in Delhi and said that Khare has assured to launch a scrutiny of the process of issuing Aadhaar cards in Goa.

"What is surprising is that despite the Goa department of civil supplies having issued a circular in October 2002 stating that 'there are a very large number of false ration cards circulating in the state due to whatever lacunae' and that the government had decided not to use ration cards as proof of identity; ration cards are continued to be used as sole proof of identity to issue Aadhaar cards in Goa," PCF alleged. In several petitions to the central government, the PCF has pointed out that Aadhaar cards obtained by manipulative methods could be used to avail of social schemes meant for Indian citizens by ineligible persons of other nationalities.