Hyderabad: Delays persist Rejected beneficiaries await ration cards

Hyderabad : Ration card applicants who were denied approval are still awaiting the issuance of enduring ration cards, encompassing a substantial proportion approximately 40 to 50 percentof migrants and unorganised laborers are among the 1,06,818 rejected cardholders. Despite the Supreme Court’s directive over a month ago, mandating the allocation of ration cards to all migrants and unorganised workers under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) through the e-Shram portal, the registration procedure is yet to commence in the State.

In an endeavor to draw the attention of the Civil Supply Department, social activists have fervently implored the Telangana government to expedite the issuance of ration cards for migrants and unorganised workers. The absence of these essential cards has rendered them unable to access the associated benefits, thereby necessitating urgent action from the authorities.

SQ Masood, a prominent social activist, expressed deep concern over the persistent delay in initiating the registration process for ration cards, as mandated by the Supreme Court on April 20. “Despite the court’s directive to provide ration cards to all migrants and unorganised workers through the e-Shram portal under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), the Telangana government is yet to commence the registration procedure.” Since the formation of Telangana, the government has failed to issue permanent ration cards to beneficiaries. In 2016, a staggering number of 1,06,818 cards were arbitrarily rejected without any on-site inspections, and a substantial portion of these rejections, approximately 40 to 50 percent, pertained to migrants and unorganised workers. Regrettably, the registration process for new cardholders has remained stagnant ever since, he added.

These unorganised workers are facing hardship to avail various benefits, the State government should also universalise access to the Public Distribution System (PDS) for all migrant/unorganised sector workers and provide access to ration cards without complex inclusion and exclusion criteria,” said Maria Arifuddin, another social activist.

R Anil, an unorganised worker and rightful beneficiary, expressed his frustration at the rejection of his ration card, even after the Supreme Court’s order to provide Ration Cards under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) on the e-Shram portal. Despite the court’s directive, the progress towards issuing the cards has not yet commenced. He conveyed his exasperation at repeatedly requesting the concerned officials to issue him a permanent ration card, only to face inaction and no resolution to his situation.