Computerised ration cards in Maharashtra soon

Mumbai, Apr 30 (UNI) Maharashtra will soon have the system of computerised ration cards and the commencement of the process for providing it to the existing cardholders would begin tomorrow, from Mangaon in Raigad district.

Addressing a press conference here, Food and Civil supplies Minister Sunil Tatkare said on the foundation day of Maharashtra State, the process will be initiated. There are 8000 ration card holders in Mangaon and as many as 17 lakh cards were scrapped in the state out of which seven lakh are in Mumbai. There are 2.36 crore eligible ration card holders in the State, he added.

He said the first phase, beginning tomorrow, will cover 15 villages in Raigad district. The entire process will be completed by August 15 and the development of software for the purpose is in its final stage.

He said the software will enable the concerned officials to monitor movement of food grains, kerosene, till they reach the ration card holders. The data will be submitted to the Tehsil office every week.

The computerised cards will have bar codes and have specific numbers to identify the district, city, taluka and village. The data can be stored for at least ten years.

UNI