Border people to get ration cards

Kolkata, JulY 14 (UNI) The West Bengal government has initiated a special drive to issue ration cards to people living along the international border areas in the state.

Announcing this in the Assembly here today, food and civil supplies minister Paresh Adhikary informed CPI(M) member Samsul Islam Mollah that Indian citizens living within 15 kms radius along the Indo-Bangladesh border in all bordering districts of the state would now be able to apply for fresh ration cards even to the sub-divisional officers.

Previously such cards were issued only by the District Magistrate of the bordering districts.

The minister said about 430 new sub-inspectors were being appointed by his department to ensure smooth issuance of the cards to those having photo identity cards as proof of their indian citizenship.

To a supplementary question of Trinamool legislator Sobhandeb Chattopadhay, Adhikary said during the past three years 7.95 lakh bogus ration cards had been identified and cancelled in the state.

He said, however, efforts were being made to issue fresh cards to them and the process was expected to be completed soon.

To another query, he said during the last few years about 4.5 million false ration cards have been cancelled.

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