In a major decision to stop the wastage of food grains and possibly to thwart pilferage of the unused stock lying in warehouses, the Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs has decided to temporarily suspend ration cards of beneficiaries who did not lift their monthly entitled food grains for last six months.
Director Gopal Parsekar’s order issued in the mid-month directs temporary suspension of the ‘silent ration card’ from February 1, 2023.“It is brought to the notice of the Department that many ration card holders in the State of Goa are not availing their monthly entitled food grains quota. It is to inform all the ration card holders in the State of Goa that those ration card holders who have not lifted their monthly entitled food grains quota for the last six months will be temporarily suspended from February 1, 2023,” the order states.
The Goan contacted the director, who confirmed issuing the order. A list of silent ration cards will be compiled based on which action will be initiated; he said replying to a question by this reporter.
Those who wish to retrieve their respective ration cards will have to approach the Taluka Civil Supplies Offices with an application requesting to revoke the suspension of their ration cards. As per the order, they will be required to submit a valid reason for not availing of the food grains quota.
The department had come under scrutiny after the Crime Branch busted a systematic racket wherein huge stocks of wheat and rice were siphoned off from government godowns to Karnataka where it was sold at market price. Three teams recovered 1,014 gunny bags from three locations in Ponda followed by arrests. Mastermind Sachin Borkar was granted anticipatory bail in what was a setback for the CB sleuths.
