Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jan 23: The government has found that about 20 lac people have been drawing items being issued under the public distribution system, although they are not eligible for the same legally. These are bogus people who are eating away the government money illegally.

This information came out after linking of Aadhar card (e-KYC) was made mandatory for BPL, APL and Antyodaya ration card holders in ration shops. It is said that names of people who have left homes after marriage, those who changed their residences, deceased ones etc continue to exist in ration cards.

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Although it has been about five months since e-KYC process was started, the process has been completed in only about 50 percent of the cases. Already about ten lac names of people who left parental homes after marriage, and those who died, have been cancelled.

The deadline for mandatory e-KYC process had been fixed as January 31. It has since been changed to March 31. The department has decided to stop issuing of rice and other items to families which fail to comply with e-KYC even then. As per an estimate, once the process is completed, about 20 lac names will disappear from the list of ration card holders.

An official has estimated that the government can save about Rs 400 crore if names of ineligible persons are deleted.

It is said that in a large number of cases, even above poverty line (APL) families have succeeded in getting BPL cards under the influence of known people. The government, it is said, wants to gather information of such cards with help from revenue and transport departments.

The department has noted that because of server problem, fair price shops in rural areas are finding it difficult to link Aadhar cards with ration cards. The department has instructed district level officials to attend to the problem and address issues faced if any.