Himachal to Remove Vehicle and Large Land Owners from Subsidized Ration List, Centre Sends List of Suspected Beneficiaries
In Himachal Pradesh, individuals who own four-wheelers, have large land holdings, concrete houses, or haven’t collected ration for the past six months are set to be removed from the subsidized ration list under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The central government has sent a list of over five lakh suspected beneficiaries to the state, initiating a comprehensive verification process.
The responsibility of the investigation has been assigned to the Department of Food Supplies and the Rural Development Department. The objective is to ensure that only genuinely eligible families continue to receive government subsidies, amid concerns that many ineligible people are availing these benefits.
Key Areas of Investigation:
- The Food Supplies Department will investigate four categories:
- Beneficiaries not taking ration for over six months
- Individuals drawing ration from multiple locations
- Four-wheeler owners
- Income tax payers
The Rural Development Department will verify land ownership and concrete housing details. After the investigation, both departments will submit reports to the central government, and ineligible individuals will be removed from the NFSA list.
Current NFSA Benefits:
Under NFSA, nearly 7 lakh families in Himachal receive subsidized ration in three categories: Priority Households (PHH), Below Poverty Line (BPL), and Antyodaya. Each member receives:
- 2 kg free rice
- 2.8 kg wheat flour at ₹1.20 per kg
- Sugar at ₹13 per kg
- Pulses and refined oil ₹10 cheaper than APL rates
Situation in Solan District:
In Solan alone, a list of around 35,000 suspected names has been received. District Food Supply Controller Shravan Himalayan confirmed that a thorough verification process is underway. Ineligible beneficiaries will be reported to the Centre and removed from the NFSA scheme.
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