Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday said nearly three crore additional ration cards could be issued to eligible beneficiaries after state governments removed 2.21 crore ineligible names from the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Speaking at the launch of a smart warehousing system, Joshi clarified that the deletions were undertaken by state governments based on their own verification processes and not by the Centre.
According to the minister, the food ministry had earlier identified 8.51 crore potentially ineligible beneficiaries, including deceased persons, income-tax payers and owners of four-wheelers, and shared the data with states for further action.
“Out of the 8.51 crore identified beneficiaries, states have withdrawn 2.21 crore ration cards. The Centre has not cancelled any cards,” Joshi said. He noted that the identification process was facilitated by the digitisation of the PDS network across the country.
The minister said states have already been authorised to include eligible beneficiaries in the system and estimated that nearly three crore more ration cards could be issued to deserving individuals by various state governments.
Joshi pointed out that progress in removing ineligible beneficiaries has varied from state to state, with some completing the exercise while others are still carrying out the verification process.
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“At present, there are around 79 crore ration card holders in the country,” he said, adding that the government's priority is not to reduce expenditure but to ensure that subsidised foodgrains reach those who genuinely need them. He reiterated that the target of providing free foodgrains to 80 crore beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) remains unchanged.
Highlighting the benefits of digitisation, Joshi said that 98.5 per cent of foodgrain distribution under PMGKY is now authenticated through Aadhaar-based verification and electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) machines.
The minister added that advanced technologies, including smart warehouses and modern depots, are being introduced across the PDS ecosystem as part of efforts to create a fully digital food distribution system.
Joshi also claimed that nearly 25 crore people have moved out of multidimensional poverty since the Covid-19 pandemic due to various welfare initiatives, including PMGKY. He cited assessments by institutions such as the IMF and NITI Aayog in support of the claim.
On concerns over a possible rise in the food subsidy bill during the current financial year, the minister expressed confidence that the government would be able to manage the expenditure within the allocated budget.
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