Odisha's Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra informed the state Legislative Assembly on Wednesday that the government has cancelled 34,939 ineligible ration cards to date, impacting a total of 1,25,963 family members across the state.

The disclosure came in a written reply to a question raised by senior Congress leader and Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati during the ongoing Assembly session. The minister highlighted that these cancellations form part of sustained efforts over the past two years to cleanse the Public Distribution System (PDS) beneficiary database, targeting ineligible holders such as those identified through verification processes including duplicates, e-KYC mismatches, or other disqualifications. Additionally, the names of 7,75,064 deceased persons have been removed from the ration card records to enhance accuracy and curb potential misuse of subsidized food grains.

Minister Patra provided further details on coverage under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), noting that the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) category includes 12,38,321 families with 34,35,642 members, while the Priority Household (PHH) category covers 85,59,251 families comprising 2,88,54,050 members. Overall, the state currently has 1,00,96,299 ration card beneficiary families, encompassing 3,28,52,433 individuals. He emphasized that these measures aim to ensure transparency, prevent diversion of benefits, and direct resources more effectively toward genuine needy households.

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The initiative aligns with broader PDS reforms in Odisha, including ongoing e-KYC drives and database purges that have previously led to the removal of ghost cards and ineligible beneficiaries, such as government employees or taxpayers previously included erroneously. In specific districts like Koraput, 1,426 ineligible cards affecting 4,953 family members have been cancelled as part of localized reviews. The government has stressed that such actions help safeguard the integrity of welfare schemes amid periodic scrutiny and public demands for accountability.

This latest update reflects the administration's commitment to periodic cleaning of records, a process that has drawn both praise for promoting efficiency and criticism from opposition quarters over potential impacts on legitimate beneficiaries. As the drive continues, authorities maintain that eligible applicants remain supported, with mechanisms in place for appeals and reinstatements where warranted. The move underscores ongoing challenges in managing large-scale welfare databases while balancing inclusion and exclusion to optimize public resources in the state.

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