Bhubaneswar, Jan 20: Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra today appealed the people who have acquired ration cards reportedly through fraudulent methods to surrender their cards immediately.
Patra stated that during e-KYC verification process, several income taxpayers including officers, OAS officers and doctors were found to have availed ration cards in Odisha.
He appealed the ineligible beneficiaries to surrender their cards and warned them of action for availing the ration cards meant for poor people.
"We have begun verifying documents, and those found to have obtained benefits through fraudulent means will be identified and excluded from the list. They should voluntarily surrender their ration cards before this to ensure that deserving beneficiaries can avail the benefits. If necessary, they will face penalties for the offense, and the money will be recovered from them with fines imposed retroactively from the date the ration cards were issued," said Patra.
He further added that around four lakh income taxpayers had availed the ration cards during the previous government.
