47,000 Fake Ration Cards Found In Mega Probe, Recovery Next

A major verification drive into the government ration system in Sambhal district has revealed that around 47 thousand ration cards were held by ineligible beneficiaries. These cards have now been cancelled, and the administration has directed officials to begin recovery proceedings for the government ration taken by those found ineligible.

The verification was carried out on the instructions of the government. The District Supply Department and tehsil-level committees checked government ration card holders on 18 standards. During this process, about 47 thousand ration cards were found to be ineligible and were cancelled.

The verification also brought out names of people who were economically well-off but were still taking benefit of the government ration scheme. After the matter came to light, the administration instructed that action be started to recover government ration from such ineligible beneficiaries.

DM Ankit Khandelwal has taken the allegations of fake ration cards being made in Sambhal seriously. He has directed that the entire matter be investigated from all angles. He has also ordered strict action if the involvement of any officer or employee is found in the process of issuing ration cards.

After 47 thousand ineligible cards were detected, the District Supply Department has also moved into action mode. Checks and raids are continuing at government ration shops across the district. The department is now examining how long the ineligible people had been taking the benefit of government ration and whether there was any collusion within the system.

The action has created panic among those accused of fraud in the government ration scheme. Officials are now focusing not only on the cancellation of ineligible cards, but also on recovery and on identifying whether anyone within the system helped such beneficiaries get ration cards issued despite being ineligible.