Jharkhand Cracks Down on Over 8 Lakh Fake Ration Card Holders, Recovery and Legal Action Planned

Ranchi: The Jharkhand government has launched a statewide drive against people who have been illegally availing benefits under the public distribution system (PDS). More than eight lakh suspected ineligible ration card holders have been identified, and authorities are carrying out physical verification to confirm their eligibility.

Those found guilty of fraud will not only have their ration cards cancelled but will also be required to repay the cost of the food grains at prevailing market prices along with interest. The government has also warned of legal action against offenders.

Officials said that around **8,02,685** ration card holders have been flagged as ineligible. The list includes beneficiaries who have not lifted their food grains for six months to a year, raising doubts about the authenticity of their cards. So far, physical verification of **4,61,025** card holders has been completed.

The verification process targets people who continue to enjoy subsidised ration despite no longer meeting the eligibility criteria. Notices are being issued to suspected beneficiaries, and if they fail to provide a satisfactory explanation, their cards will be cancelled. They will then have to reimburse the value of the ration received at market rates, pay applicable interest, and face legal proceedings.

Verification reveals irregularities

The preliminary verification has uncovered several anomalies. Officials found **12,284 single-member ration cards** where the registered beneficiary is either over **100 years of age** or below **18 years**, raising serious questions over their validity.

Another **21,750 duplicate ration cards** are still awaiting physical verification. The highest number of duplicate cases has been reported from **East Singhbhum, Giridih, and West Singhbhum** districts.

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Space to be created for genuine beneficiaries

The government expects that removing fake and inactive ration cards from the system will allow deserving families to receive benefits under the scheme. More than **5.50 lakh** applications are currently pending for new ration cards or inclusion of additional family members.

Of these, **1,94,669** applications are for new ration cards, while **3,60,178** seek the addition of names to existing cards. At present, **1,16,636 beneficiary slots** are available under the **National Food Security Act (NFSA)**, which can be allotted to eligible applicants once the verification exercise is completed.