Bengal to distribute digitised ration cards in transparent way

Amid controversies over the process of distribution of digitised ration cards statewide, West Bengal Chief Secretary Basudeb Banerjee on Tuesday held a video conference with all district magistrates to ensure the task is undertaken in a peaceful and transparent manner.

State Food Minister Jyotipriyo Mallick along with a host of senior officials like Home Secretary, Commissioner of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Principal Secretary of Food Department were part of the video conference.

Through the conference, state government issued some concrete guidelines to the DMs for distribution of digitised ration cards in a more transparent way.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday said the state government has taken certain measures to eliminate problems pertaining to availability of digitised ration cards.

The chief minister said earlier that her government would ensure food security to all and would not tolerate any politics surrounding this.

“Distribution of digitised cards is 82 per cent. People who did not receive digitised cards, will get them if they bring any proof of submission for the digitised cards. Even Antardoya, BPL card holders who are unable to apply, can also avail benefit of the scheme,” Banerjee had said at the state secretariat Nabanna after a high-level meeting.