JOIN USA drive to eradicate bogus ration cards will be launched on August 1, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies, informed the Legislative Assembly on Thursday.
Replying to a question by Akhanda Srinivasamurthy (JD-S), Rao said the department had given time to those owning bogus ration cards to surrender them before July-end.
He said once the drive was launched, legal action would be taken against those possessing bogus cards. In a bid to ensure transparency in the public distribution system, SMSs will be sent to the mobile phones of consumers after they collect their ration from fair price shops.
The process will help curb diversion of foodgrains, especially in the Anna Bhagya scheme, he said adding that the department had collected mobile phone numbers of 88 lakh card holders, the minister said.
He said the department had suspended licences of 220 fair price shops, following complaints of irregularities in the distribution of rice under the Anna Bhagya scheme. As many as 10 fair prices shops have been closed down and show-cause notices issued to 11 more shops, he said. Anna Bhagya adalats are being conducted at fair price shops to look into the grievances of the beneficiaries, Rao said.