Only 14 ration cards not linked to Aadhaar: Food Dept

NEW DELHI: Delhi has nearly 19,42,681 ration card holders, out of which only 14 cards are not linked to Aadhaar cards till August 10. According to the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department, about 15,38,238 ration card holders have been taking their rations. But 2.6 lakh card holders had not turned up to take ration in June. During January and February, almost 68,664 could not get the ration because of several problems on the ground, ranging from e-POS machines not recognizing fingerprints to there being no signal/low connectivity at shops, said department officials.

The Delhi government has decided Fair Price Shops which sell rations will no longer use the e-POS adhaar linked machine for distribution of ration. The shops will instead give ration by verifying details on ration cards, the manner in which it was being done till November last year. In the current financial year 2018-2019, the department has already cancelled 2,52,542 ration cards. Nearly 1,33,524 fresh applicants are waiting for their ration cards. The department added that it would take "utmost precaution" so that no eligible beneficiary is deprived of ration and that due verification was needed to weed out ineligible beneficiaries.