The government runs various welfare schemes to help the general public financially, including the ration card scheme, which provides free rations. However, there have been instances of fraud where individuals illegally obtain rations. In such cases, the food department imposes penalties.
In Rajasthan, there have been reports of fraud related to the food security scheme. As a result, the food department has decided to take strict action against those involved in such activities, as per media reports.
Campaign Launched
To warn those who are fraudulently obtaining rations, Rajasthan’s Logistics department has initiated a “Give Up” campaign. This campaign encourages individuals to voluntarily remove their names from the list if they are not eligible. It will run until January 31, 2025, and so far, around 1,000 people have opted out.
Recovery Process
According to the Logistics department, individuals who are fraudulently receiving rations can remove their names under this campaign. If they fail to do so, they will be charged ₹27 per kilogram for the rations they received improperly. Those who voluntarily opt-out will not face any penalties.
Identifying Fraudulent Beneficiaries
To identify ineligible beneficiaries, the food department is conducting KYC (Know Your Customer) checks. This involves linking ration cards with Aadhaar cards and PAN cards. This process makes it easier to track benefits received by each ration cardholder and helps quickly identify ineligible consumers for recovery actions.
