Complaints against SMS registration process on the rise

Office of the Food and Civil Supplies department located at Deputy Commissioner's office premises in the city, has continued to attract hundreds of complaints about problems regarding SMS registration of ration cards.

On Monday, owing to the presence of hundreds of people from various parts of the city, around 15 police personnel were deputed in front of the office of Assistant Director of the department, to manage the growing crowd. Both BPL and APL card-holders who faced several complications with regard to the SMS registration procedure, complained about the delay in addressing their problems, owing to which some have been denied rations in PDS outlets.

Musthaq, a resident of Ghousia Nagar said that even though he had sent an SMS, with ration card number, Aadhaar card and EPIC numbers of the beneficiaries under the card, the confirmation SMS had been sent to a different mobile phone number, and not the one to which they had registered.

A BPL card holder, he said that he was denied ration at the PDS outlet, as PDS operators had demanded him to show the confirmation message, which indicated that his ration card was registered.

Naveen Kumar, a resident of Viswesvaranagar in the city, said that after registration, a security code was sent to him, instructing him to check the details of his ration card with the help of the code, online. “As soon I registered the ration card, as per directions of the department, a SMS was sent saying that my ration card was registered.
However, when I checked using the security code online, the website said that my ration card has been suspended,” the APL card-holder said.

Despite making repeated visits to the department, his complaints had not been addressed, he added.

Narayan, a vegetable vendor and resident of Paduvarahalli, also complained that he was being denied ration at the nearby PDS outlet.

On whether he had registered his ration card for SMS procedure, he said that he did not know how to send the SMS. “I have been visiting the concerned offices from the past few days. Apart from personnel from one office directing me to another office, the officials have failed to address my grievances,” he said.

Personnel at the department’s office, under the condition of anonymity, said that the number of persons who have been visiting the office with several complaints has increased in the past few days, as the last date of registration was August 15.

The official said that even though the last date for registration was extended twice, people, both from urban and rural areas, were yet to come in terms with the registration process, resulting in several complications. Apart from this, several technical problems too have caused problems, the official added.

Despite repeated attempts, Deputy Director of Food and Civil Supplies Department, K Rameshwarappa was not available for comment.