Fake Ration Cards: On Thursday, the Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission’s subcommittee presented a report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, recommending a thorough ground-level verification to ensure subsidized food grains reach only deserving families. The report aims to identify and remove ineligible ration card holders in the Priority Household (PHH) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) categories. To enhance transparency and accountability in the distribution system, specially formed teams will conduct the verification process at the ward level in urban areas.

On-Site Checks:
According to the new guidelines proposed by a subcommittee led by the Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, each urban ward will form a three-person verification team consisting of one tax officer or sanitation worker and two vigilance committee members. These teams will visit homes to verify ration card holders’ eligibility based on the four state-defined exclusion criteria. After receiving the list from the relevant Urban Local Body (ULB), they must complete the verification process within a month.

Fake Ration Cards Cleanup:
The research recommends that ULBs publish the verification results within seven days to ensure transparency. Subsequently, for three months, they will display the lists of cardholders proposed for cancellation, suspension, or retention on ward notice boards, government websites, and at Fair Price Shops. During this period, families can revalidate their eligibility and obtain benefits with a new or updated card if the original cardholder’s death makes them ineligible. However, this opportunity will not apply to individuals who voluntarily surrender their cards.

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Food Inspections in the centres:
According to sources, the Food Inspector must take action within a month of receiving the final verification results. This action may include suspending, canceling, or converting PHH cards to Non-Priority Household (NPHH) cards. To ensure accountability and proper record-keeping, the district-level office will receive an Action Taken Report (ATR). If a recipient has not used their rations for six months or fails to respond to notifications within three months, the Food Inspector may suspend their card. Furthermore, if the suspension continues for more than three months or the exclusion criteria are met, the card will be converted to NPHH. Finally, the card will be revoked entirely in cases of the cardholder’s death, voluntary surrender, or confirmed fraud.

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