Controversy Over Ration Card Eligibility Sparks Debate in Odisha

Odisha's Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister, Krushna Chandra Patra, confirmed that those eligible for ration cards and filing income tax returns won't be removed from the PDS list. Opposition parties criticized frequent policy changes, causing confusion about eligibility and procedures among the state's poor populations.

Odisha Minister Krushna Chandra Patra stated that eligible ration card holders who file income tax returns will not be taken off the Public Distribution System (PDS) list. This clarification followed complaints about cancellations despite tax filings.

Patra emphasized that physical verifications would be conducted for ration card holders filing IT returns. He assured that only those surpassing set income thresholds would be excluded.

Opposition parties criticized the minister for inconsistent policy statements, sowing confusion among the state's disadvantaged. Meanwhile, ongoing e-KYC processes continue to refine beneficiary databases.