80,000 Ineligible Beneficiaries Return Ration Cards in Odisha, Says Minister

Bhubaneswar: In a major development, 80,000 ineligible beneficiaries, including around 4,500 government employees, have voluntarily returned their ration cards, following the Odisha government’s appeal. This was confirmed by Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Sunday.

Expressing gratitude, Minister Patra thanked those who responded to the government’s call and surrendered their cards. “I had requested people with higher incomes and government employees to return their ration cards, and I am grateful to those who have followed this appeal,” he stated.

The Minister further revealed that 3,000 to 4,000 ineligible beneficiaries are returning their ration cards every day, describing it as a big success for the government’s initiative. He urged others still holding ineligible cards to voluntarily surrender them.

“Those earning more than ₹10,000 per month in rural areas and ₹15,000 in urban areas should return their ration cards. No action will be taken at this stage, but after the cards are returned, a verification process will follow,” he clarified.