233 Ration Cards Surrendered Across Assam by Affluent Families, District wise Breakdown Inside

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Following State Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass' appeal to the affluent families to give up their ration cards to let the needy ones to avail themselves of the benefits, as many as 233 ration cards have been surrendered from 16 districts of the State. These ration cards covered as many as 918 family members.

This was informed by an official from the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department on Monday.

It is to be noted that several district administrations also appealed the same to the people.

According to the official, out of the total surrendered ration cards, 12 are AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana) cards and the rest are PHH (Priority Household) cards.

The district-wise breakdown of surrendered cards is — Tinsukia (86), South Salmara, Mancachar (12), Morigaon (15), Golaghat (47), Dhubri (4), Halflong (4), Hailakandi (1), Karimganj (13), Nagaon (8), Goalpara (5), Bokakhat (3), Dibrugarh (17), Jonai (5), Hojai (7), Biswanath (4), and Gohpur (2).

In Assam, till June 27, under the National Food Security Act, there were a total of 58,94,276 ration cardholders in the State. Out of the total cardholders, while 6,91,499 are AYY cardholders, as many as 52,02,777 are PHH cardholders. A total of 2,51,17,073 people are availing of the benefits from the cards.

Earlier, Dass said that a section of affluent families also treats ration cards as a status symbol. They use rations cards for various other purposes, not to buy essential commodities at subsidized rates. Dass pointed out that there are around 1 lakh cardholders in the State who are financially stable.

He stressed that lakhs of poor families are being deprived of ration cards as many financially stable families are enjoying the benefits. The Minister underlined that the government will be able to give ration cards to five lakh more poor families if the affluent ones surrender their cards.

Also Read: Assam Affluent Families Should Give-up Ration Cards: Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass Urges