Vijayawada: State govt will soon replace existing ration cards with new ones, incorporating a QR code feature that allows beneficiaries to access their ration without biometric identification under the public distribution system.
The new cards will feature the govt logo, unlike the previous ones that displayed the image of former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Following chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s directive, all govt documents, including ration cards and pattadar passbooks, will now carry only govt emblem, without any individual’s image.
Additionally, govt has decided to accept applications for new ration cards from newly-married couples. These new cards will be issued by splitting the family members from the existing card.
The issuance of new ration cards had been halted nearly a year ago, which caused difficulties for many, particularly migrant labourers, who struggled to access their ration without the necessary cards.
To address this issue, the civil supplies department is reviewing ways to issue new cards more efficiently. Unlike previous govt, which processed applications only twice a year, the current regime is considering issuing new cards monthly to clear backlogs at the village/ward secretariats.
In the past, many migrant families had already moved by the time their applications were reviewed, leading to delays and the rejection of applications. This caused applicants to repeatedly resubmit requests, further slowing down the process.
Keeping this in mind, the civil supplies department plans to expedite application processing, although the release of additional ration quotas for new cards requires further budget approval. The proposal will be submitted to the state cabinet for final approval, which will set the timelines for the issuance of new ration cards.
Moreover, the department is addressing an issue with the previous regime’s decision to issue ration cards solely in the name of women. This policy left many families, particularly those without a female head, without ration cards. In cases where the female head of a household passed away, families were unable to access their ration.
The civil supplies department is proposing an automatic update in the system that would allow the eldest male member to be recognised as the head of the family.
Cabinet approval will be sought for necessary amendments to the system to resolve this issue.
