Hyderabad: Confusion Over Issuance of New Ration Cards
The Telangana state government has started issuing new ration cards, but confusion and panic are spreading among the public due to the use of multiple databases to determine eligibility. Officials are relying on data from Praja Palana applications, older applications from 2018, and the recently conducted caste survey. However, poor communication at the field level has left many officials unclear about the process.
In the first phase of the process, which was prepared at the Collectorate level, a limited number of households were identified. This list, however, allegedly did not follow established guidelines, leading to further confusion. Some names on the list belong to individuals who already have ration cards, while in other cases, members of the same family were included multiple times.
Over the past decade, 19 lakh households have applied for ration cards through various means, including Meeseva, Praja Palana, and the caste survey, according to sources. Despite this, the discrepancies became evident during the Grama Sabhas, which began across Telangana on Tuesday. At these meetings, villagers argued with officials, claiming that genuine beneficiaries had been left out while ineligible names appeared on the lists.
The Grama Sabhas are part of a larger effort to identify beneficiaries for several welfare schemes, such as Indiramma Indlu, Indiramma Athmeeya Bharosa, Ration Cards, and Rythu Bharosa. These meetings will continue until January 24. Officials attempted to calm concerns by explaining that the list remains a work in progress, with final approval to be given by the Collector after deliberations in the Grama Sabhas.
The Association for Socio-Economic Empowerment of the Marginalised (ASEEM) has raised concerns over the use of Samagra Vedika, a 360-degree software system developed under the previous administration. In a letter to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, ASEEM claimed that 20 lakh ration card holders were arbitrarily excluded from receiving benefits. They criticized the software for its lack of transparency and errors, noting that many affected individuals have taken their grievances to the High Court.
ASEEM’s SQ Masood urged the government to amend the guidelines tied to the Samagra Kutumba Survey, arguing that the survey and software lack legal backing. “We request the government to immediately scrap the Samagra Kutumba Survey and the 360-degree software system,” he said. He emphasized that these systems violate principles of transparency, the right to privacy, and natural justice.
On January 19, Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy reassured the public that no deserving individual would be excluded from the benefits. He also clarified that no existing ration cards would be canceled. Reddy stated that new ration card applications would be considered based on data from the caste survey, Praja Palana, Praja Vaani, and Mee-Seva centers. He also encouraged those left out to apply during the ongoing Grama Sabhas, which will run until January 24.
The government aims to ensure that only eligible individuals receive ration cards, using socio-economic data, caste survey results, and other records to determine eligibility. Officials have promised that no deserving person will be left behind in this process.
