Ration card demand up five fold in Noida

NOIDA: Qutubuddin, a 35-year-old barber from Badaun, came to Noida with his family a year ago in search of work. When the pandemic hit, he didn’t have any resources to earn a livelihood. However, he managed to get a ration card issued in his name and has been getting free food since then.
“I am a roadside barber. Thanks to the ration card, we haven’t faced a food crisis.We have been getting free rice and wheat. I have picked up ration multiple times now,” said Qutibuddin who now lives in Bangel. Like Qutubuddin, there are numerous others in a similar situation.
The pandemic has sparked a scramble for ration cards, which entitle poor households to subsidised foodgrains from government-run fair price shops. According to officials, the demand for ration cards in Gautam Budh Nagar has shot up five times during the pandemic.
The highest ever number of ration card requests (under 800) received annually was in the year 2019-20, as per the District Supply Office (DSO), which operates under the district administration, From June 2020 to June 2021, however, the total number of ration cards issued by the DSO has been recorded at 4,000.
According to the supply office of the district, the total number of ration card holders in Noida and Greater Noida has grown to 2,04,000.
“During the pandemic, we advertised ration card benefits far and wide. According to the government’s orders, beneficiaries are to be granted free ration till November. Any family that has an annual income lower than Rs 3 lakh in urban areas and under Rs 2 lakh in rural areas are eligible for ration cards,” district supply officer (DSO) Chaman Sharma told TOI.
The ration distribution centres are currently distributing wheat, rice and salt twice a month. Some people who registered for the government food supply this year claimed that it has been a significant help for them in supporting their families as they were without work since April.
“Every weekend, we clear around 50-80 applications. The applicants have to fill up three forms at the community service centres and we verify if the person has a ration card anywhere else in the country. If all data is accurate, the card is released between a week or two,” Sharma added.
GB Nagar has 366 ration distribution centres, of which 242 are in villages and 124 in city areas. On holding a card, currently, beneficiaries get 60 kg of ration per month free of cost.