Ration card income eligibility to be raised to Rs 2.5 lakh per annum in Delhi

The Delhi government has cancelled over 7 lakh "invalid" ration cards and plans to raise the income limit for fresh issues to Rs 2.5 lakh per annum.

The Delhi government has cancelled more than 7 lakh ration cards and is going to raise the income limit to Rs 2.5 lakh per annum for the fresh issue, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference, Gupta said the government had cancelled around 7.72 lakh ''invalid'' ration cards, and invited fresh online applications.

In Delhi, no ration cards were issued in the last 13 years, Gupta said.

''After an intensive audit, the government removed 1.44 lakh beneficiaries not fulfilling the income criterion, 35,800 who did not receive ration, 29,580 who died, while 23,394 ration cards were found to be duplicates,'' she said.

At present, the income criterion to become eligible for a ration card in Delhi is capped at Rs 1.2 lakh per annum.

Gupta said the hike is aimed at benefiting the maximum number of needy people.

The hike decision will be approved in the next cabinet meeting, she added.