Centre to control ration cards, unified cards across nation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the linking of ration cards with Aadhaar almost complete, the central government has started the process of implementing a unified ration card across the country. States cannot oppose the Centre taking control of the card as it is the central government that provides ration to the people.

Currently, each state issues different types of cards according to different criteria. These may acquire a uniform character. The decision will be taken after consultation with the states. Meanwhile, states will have the power to fix benefits.

Aadhaar linking is more than 90 percent complete in states except West Bengal. Infiltration from Bangladesh has been an obstacle. The Centre also aims to prevent such infiltrators from becoming Indians.

All ration cards in Kerala are linked with Aadhaar. The announcement of this will be made by the state government soon. During the period of Covid and Onam, the state government procured foodgrains on its own and distributed them on the basis of ration cards. The Centre will not interfere in this type of distribution system.

Advantages for those who stay in other states

Those working in other states can buy their ration share from ration shops in that state. Once Aadhaar is linked, all its information will be available in the ration card as well.

Challenges

1. Ration cards are different in every state. The Centre has categorized the cards into Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), Priority Household (PHH) and Non-Priority Non Subsidy (NPNS). In Kerala, these are yellow, pink and white cards respectively. Apart from this, the state government has also introduced blue card. General category gets ration with a subsidy. Thus, it is not clear in what order the ration will be distributed to those who are in the list of the state government only.

2. Ration allocation is fixed on the basis of urban and rural population. It varies from state to state. This will have to be reassessed.

3. Not all states provide ration grain to the non-priority category. There are states where up to 75% of the population have priority cards. In Kerala it is 43%. The criteria will have to be changed.