You have a ration card, but you haven't purchased any item for the past six months? Then, your card will be suspended temporarily. An amendment to the public distribution system (PDS) rules in this regard announced by the Central Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution came into effect on July 22.

As per the amended Act, the decision to freeze ration cards has to be taken by the state government. Following this, the authorities have to carry out direct verification over the next three months, during which the electronic KYC procedures have to be conducted. Subsequently, ration items will be allotted to eligible cardholders.

The new decision of the Central government will affect a large number of people in Kerala, as an average of around 17.65 lakh card owners in the state do not purchase PDS items every month. In June, only 78.33 lakh (82.34 per cent) out of the total 95.05 lakh card owners in Kerala bought ration.

Even though a system to exclude owners of priority cards, such as pink and yellow, who fail to purchase ration items for at least three months from this category existed earlier, the rule to freeze any ration card is being implemented for the first time.

Mustering made mandatory
The Central Government has also made mustering (e-KYC) of all members of a ration card mandatory every five years. The Aadhaar number of children aged below five years has to be registered, if available. At the same time, mustering of children who attain the age of five has to be completed within one year

Yet another rule states that separate ration cards will not be issued to persons under 18 years of age.

In Kerala, mustering has to be completed urgently for the priority category cards - yellow and pink. The state has achieved 98.85 per cent of this target.

Duplicate card
Ration cards of people included in cards of multiple states will be suspended. Mustering will be carried out in the next three months to prove the eligibility of such card members.

The new rules also say that the authorities should consider the applications for ration cards on a ‘first-in, first-out’ basis. Preference could be given to applicants belonging to backward and vulnerable sections of society. The waiting list must be published on the state government portal, and facilities should be provided for applicants to check the status of their applications.