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Applications open on July 22 as the Punjab government promises transparent, technology-based selection to expand food security for vulnerable families and migrant workers.
Chandigarh, July 21
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday said that 10 lakh new ration cards would be issued through a fully digital system designed to eliminate bribery, political influence and middlemen.
Applications for new ration cards and the addition of family members will open on 22 July. The government said seven lakh newly eligible families would be added to the public distribution system, while three lakh e-Shram-registered and migrant workers would be brought under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
Each new beneficiary will receive 5kg of wheat along with the state’s Meri Rasoi Nutrition Kit, a move the government says is aimed at improving both food and nutritional security.
Speaking at a press conference, Mann said the programme would follow the principle of “No Cash, No Farmaish” — meaning no bribes and no recommendations.
He said ration cards, like government jobs, should no longer depend on political connections or unofficial payments, adding that every application would be assessed through the same digital process.
People can submit applications online, through Seva Kendras, Common Service Centres (CSCs) or District Food Offices. Applicants will receive SMS acknowledgements and be able to track the progress of their applications online.
The government said that it has replaced manual verification with a technology-led system that includes household inspections, geo-tagged and time-stamped verification, checks against government databases and a digital audit trail for every approval or rejection.
The applicants will be prioritised using a points-based system, with greater weight given to widows, people with disabilities, senior citizens, families living below the poverty line, households with serious illnesses, poor housing conditions and low incomes.
The state government said around 32 lakh families are already receiving benefits under the Meri Rasoi Scheme and described the expansion as an effort to ensure welfare reaches those who need it most.
Mann also criticised previous governments, alleging that ration cards had often been distributed through political patronage. He said the new system was intended to replace discretion with transparency and ensure eligible families receive benefits without discrimination.
The North News
