Ration Card Scam

Within less than a week of the detection of over four lakh ghost students enrolled in the primary, middle, and high2 schools of Assam, there is now news of the detection of about 1.25 lakh ration cards in the state that had existed in the names of ineligible persons, and that too within just the month of December. This is definitely a huge scam, one that needs to be further investigated, and thoroughly, so that all such names are struck off and the ration cards cancelled. It is sad that these 1.25 lakh families were availing themselves of various essential food items under the Public Distribution System (PDS), in the process depriving thousands of poor families of the same. While some of the ration cards did not have the vital Aadhaar link, a large number were ineligible beneficiaries, some reportedly having an income of over Rs 4 lakh per annum, which is a clear violation of the prescribed norms. It is also evident from the news item prominently displayed on the front page of the Saturday issue of this newspaper that a number of government employees were also availing themselves of this benefit despite the fact that the norms do not make them eligible for the same. Though the authorities are yet to establish it, the fact remains that this scam is the handiwork of a section of unscrupulous employees of the state government itself, which has worked overtime to take unlawful advantage of various welfare schemes introduced by the government from time to time. What is required is a thorough investigation leading to the identification of each and every culprit in the system and awarding them exemplary punishment. At the same time, names of all such government employees should also be made public through newspapers so that these individuals are publicly shamed.