Oldest woman in family to be head in ration cards in Punjab

The Punjab government today issued a notification regarding new ration cards in which the oldest woman of a family would be considered the head in place of its male members.
As per the Section 13 of the National Food Security Act, 2013, the Punjab government designates the oldest woman of a family, who is not less than 18-year old, as the head of a household for issuance of items under the Public Distribution System (PDS), an official spokesperson of the Food and Civil Supply Department said.
In case of a household, at any time, that does not have a woman or a woman of 18 years of age or above, but has a female member below that age, then, the oldest male member of the family shall be considered the head while the female member, on attaining such age shall become the head of the household in place of the male member.

The spokesperson clarified that till the time, the new ration cards are not issued, the oldest woman of a family would deem to be considered as the head in the old ration cards too.