In the aftermath of devastating floods in Kashmir in September last, many complaints were brought to the notice of the Department of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) disclosing that while bogus card holders were receiving relief and ration, genuine flood victims were left unattended. This led to enquiry into the matter and it was finally revealed that a large number of bogus ration cards were in circulation and people holding these were unauthorizedly drawing ration and relief.
CAPD has been seized with the problem of unauthorized or bogus ration cards for quite some time. In order to check this irregularity, it had initiated the digitization exercise so that bogus or duplication could be detected quickly and action taken. But somehow the digitization work did not proceed smoothly and was left incomplete. Now after the complaints have been piling up, the CAPD has once again focused attention on the exercise of digitization of record of the department. If this is going to identify unauthorized and bogus ration cards, we welcome the step and expect the CAPD to complete the exercise within shortest possible time. Of course once digitization is completed, it should be possible for the department to issue cards on line because all the data will have been fed into the computer. CAPD authorities are of the view that within a month, digitization process will be completed and thereafter people will have no complaints against the department.
We would like to remind the authorities at CAPD that the department has earned bad name owing to the scam that was unearthed and the case is before the court. The CAPD authorities need to re-establish their credentials with the people in general by demonstrating that it is an efficient department and seriously concerned with promoting of public interests. It must recreate its profile as an honest and efficient department.
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