Irish model ration card to be introduced in Kendrapara

Kendrapara, Jun 1 (UNI) The Orissa government has planned to introduce Irish model ration cards in Kendrapara in a bid to check the rising number of ''ghost beneficiaries.'' Kendrapara District Magistrate Kasinath Sahu said ration cards in the model of Ireland would be issued for both Above Poverty Line (APL) and Below Poverty Line (BPL) category of beneficiaries.

The government's decision came in the wake of a number of allegations made about the circulation of ghost ration cards and misappropriation of government-sponsored fair price shop commodities in large amounts.

The new ration cards would have several innovative features to stop the practice of distributing ghost cards. The proposed card would have the details of the enlisted beneficiary, his dependent and family members.

It would also have eyelashes and fingerprints and no photograph of the beneficiaries, official sources confined.

Mr Sahu said on an experimental basis, the model cards had already been introduced in a couple of places in Rayagada district and found to be very successful, he said.

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