The latest census figures have revealed that Himachal Pradesh has at least 100,000 excess ration cardholders.
According to the 2011 census figures, the provisional population of the state is 6.8 million (6.86 million). There are 16,11,410 ration cardholders. According to estimates, there are over 100,000 fake or duplicate ration cardholders in the state, say officials. “We have written to all district magistrates to cross-check all ration cardholders,” said Amar Singh Rathore, director state food and civil supplies department.
With the state population to be covered under the biometric unique identity (UID) project, the food department hopes to weed out these duplicate cardholders, said R K Shad, principal advisor planning to the state government.
In the current financial year, the state government is spending Rs 130 crore on distributing subsidised food items like three pulses, two edible oils and salt at public distribution system centres across the state.
