Aadhaar card now a must to receive foodgrains from ration shops

The central government has now taken the unanimous decision to make Aadhaar card mandatory for people who avail the subsidized foodgrains ,distributed through the Public distribution system(PDS).

First it was the LPG gas cylinder supply, which was linked to Aadhaar, now it is the PDS. But this is a more cruel move as the poorest are dependent on the scanty supply of subsidized foodgrains.

The BJP government announced that it can better target Rs 1.4 lakh crore subsidy under the food security law. The government has given time to those who are not having the biometric-based unique identification number to apply for Aadhaar by June 30.

In reality ,this will be a further blow to the poor and unorganized sector which is still out of jobs and reeling after the demonetization crisis. In effect it will create less distribution of food grains(which was already less) and further increase malnutrition.

The notification would come into effect from February 8 in all states and UTs except Assam, Meghalaya and Jammu and Kashmir. This will also be applicable to all the new beneficiaries. The beneficiaries can make request for Aadhaar enrolment by giving their name, address, mobile number with ration card number and other details with their fair price shop owners or through the web portal provided for the purpose by State/UT Governments.

“To give a boost to cashless economy,” the government said that states have promised to install digital payment system at ration shops by June. The Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan told reporters, “At present, nearly 29,000 fair price shops have the cashless facility out of 5.27 lakh ration shops. We are happy to share that many states will have 100 per cent cashless system in rations shops by March.”

Till now the possession of a ration card was sufficient- now it will be linked to Aadhaar card. Will the transactions in ration shops become more and more cashless or grain-less?

-UDAAN