Blocked ration cards stand cancelled, says government

Families have been asked to apply afresh at the taluk ofifice

Despite earlier assurances that the ration cards blocked for non-linking of Aadhaar cards will be unblocked later, the district administration has now asked all the blocked card-holders to apply afresh for getting smart ration cards.

According to notices put up at the District Supply Office in the Collectorate here, people whose ration cards were blocked should apply for smart cards online or through e-service centres with Aadhaar cards of all family members and address proof.

Of around 9.5 lakh ration cards, nearly 1 lakh ration cards in which not even the Aadhaar of the family head was linked, were blocked in the district late last year as part of a State-wide action. According to officials, the number of ration card holders in the district is now 8.52 lakh with 30.73 lakh consumers.

The list of blocked cards was displayed in the respective ration shops and cardholders were asked to approach the taluk office for unblocking the cards by linking Aadhaar.

Though a large number of people thronged taluk offices and underwent a tedious process to get their cards unblocked, the process was stopped abruptly without any announcement from the third week of March, ahead of the issuance of smart cards, which began on April 1. “We also thought that the option to unblock the cards will be enabled again. However, the government has now ruled that out and instead asked the public to apply afresh,” said an official from Madurai North taluk office.

A senior official from the District Supply Office said that of the 1 lakh cards that were blocked, more than 15,000 families had already unblocked their cards till March. “A majority of the remaining cards will be bogus cards. For instance, a family might have had ration cards in two different places, in which case it could link the Aadhaar with just one card,” the official said.

“Hence, those who are really dependent on the ration cards will not get affected by the decision. Anyway, with easing of the procedure to apply for smart ration cards, it is not very difficult to get a new one,” the official added.

Those who are really dependent on the ration cards will not get affected by the decision