THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Food and Civil Supplies Department has removed around 60,000 individuals from the priority ration card category in Kerala as part of a statewide verification drive. The move comes after identifying cardholders who have not availed themselves of ration supplies for three consecutive months.

The affected individuals, who held yellow and pink cards, will now be shifted to the white card category. The department clarified that the central government has mandated mustering for yellow and pink cardholders to ensure proper ration allocation. Despite multiple deadline extensions for mustering, thousands failed to comply.

Additionally, more than 4,000 blue cardholders who have not purchased rations in recent months have also been transferred to white cards. Yellow cardholders who did not collect the government-issued Onam kit have likewise been removed from the priority list. Officials noted that deceased individuals and those no longer eligible likely account for many of these cases. The department observed that over 800 priority cardholders who collected the Onam kit last year failed to do so this year. These individuals will also be reassigned to non-priority status. The authorities emphasized that only those who genuinely require priority category benefits will be retained.

Eligible individuals seeking reinstatement to the priority category can apply until the 10th of this month. Applications can be submitted online through the Citizen Portal or at Akshaya centres. District Supply Officers will verify applications and include eligible families in the priority category.