Recently, it was declared that the ration card offices will be regulating the ration cards and the public must get their ration cards verified, regularised or new ones issued.
But, wait as this is only the beginning. As, without the knowledge of the public, new laws have been issued by the ration department. Earlier everyone had a similar ration card and was entitled to collect sugar and kerosene at PDS rates. But then the law changed and people were given different colour covers for their ration cards depending on their income. Ideally, the white ration card issued to the citizen forbids him from drawing any ration from the ration shop. The card is just to confirm that people whose name appears in the card are citizens of Mumbai.
Despite this, on trying to get their white ration cards regularised, the holders were informed that the ration cards have been cancelled as the citizens should have reported to the ration shop once in a year. Was any such declaration made by which the public could become aware of such a law, if it exists?
Owing to this sudden news, there is a mad rush of people whose ration card has been cancelled at the ration card offices. Result, as expected, is long queues and agents. The clerks verifying or accepting the documents are rude and have already placed their agents in the queue so that people would approach the agents thus helping the officers make a fast buck. Though the cancellation of ration cards remains an unsolved mystery, before beginning with the procedure, the controller of rationing should have made suitable arrangements by increasing the staff and making the forms available.
The process could also have gone online. This would have saved the public from the hassle. The controller of rationing could actually help by declaring the cancelled ration cards still valid. This would make things easier for the public. Hope the government is listening.
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