Ration card is an important document that is necessary for availing the food supplies at subsidized rates in India. These documents are also valid legal proof acceptable by the government for various purposes. Many facilities such as rice, kerosene, sugar etc are availed to the common people at very affordable prices which are approved by the government. The consumers who are ration cardholders can get their share of distribution via P.D.S. outlets. The ration card contains the details of the cardholder such as Name, Age, Address etc. Not only food but other cooking necessities are also covered under the ration card. It is very helpful for a specific sector of society.
The criteria for the ration card is as follows:
The criteria for ration card is different for a different type of cardholders such as above poverty line ration card, below poverty line ration card and some other schemes that are exclusively announced and covered by the government are also included. The distribution of food grains and other cooking necessities is covered according to the category the cardholder falls in.
The whole population of ration card holders in Delhi and NCR is carefully distributed in the following categories:
- Above Poverty Line Families: It is abbreviated as APL. All the families that have a total income that falls in the Rs. 1,00,000 per annum are included in this category. They are provided with a ration card which is unstamped and white in colour. However, the families whose income sum total to reach above the amount of Rs. 24,200 but below Rs. 1,00,000 also falls in this category but the ration card provided to them is stamped white card.
- Below Poverty Line Families: BPL is the abbreviation of this category. These are the families with low income who are most benefited by this ration card schemes as they are the neediest and deserving of the subsidized rates. This category includes the people who fall below an annual income of Rs. 24,200.
- Antyodaya Anna Yojana: It is also abbreviated as AAY. This yojana was launched to avail the ration card benefits to the needy. It includes the handicap people who are a major source of income in the family, any labours working without any land to live upon, marginal farmers, people who have been ill for the long term, crafts related work person and widows. This scheme not only focuses on the well being and fulfilment of the needs of the ration cardholder but the whole family is covered under this scheme.
- Annapurna Yojana: It is abbreviated as AY. This yojana is really a tummy filler for lots of old people who have no support what so ever. The old people who have crossed the age bar of 65 years can be benefited under this scheme. A wholesome amount of 10 kg grain can be availed by the people above 65 years if they have no source of regular income and no national old-age pension or state pension entitled after them.
* A new announcement was made by the Delhi government in the month of March in 2020 about additional benefits of the ration card which can be availed in the global pandemic conditions where lots of poor people can have their stomachs filled in absolutely accessible services. These benefits can also be available to those who get a new ration card in the current scenario. This step is taken to ease up a load of people about food scarcity during the term of lockdown.
