Special facility for the elderly

The ration card is one of the most important documents.  The government provides subsidized foodgrains to the people through ration cards.  This card issued by the state government also offers many benefits to the elderly.  The Food and Supplies Department of the state government works from making new ration cards to cutting names from them.

• The ration card is one of the most important documents
• The government gives subsidized foodgrains to the people through ration cards
• Ration cards also offer many benefits to the elderly

Also, the old people who do not get old age pension are also given free food every month through this card.  This ration is provided through Annapurna scheme.  The government provides 10 kg of grain (6 kg of wheat and 4 kg of rice) to such elders every month.

Elders who have Annapurna Yojana card get this facility.  Cards in this category include the helpless, the extremely poor and the underprivileged.  Extremely poor are those citizens who have no source of income and even if they have income, they have only a name.  People who do not even get help from family to make a living.

The entire cost of the scheme is borne by the Central Government.  States are only responsible for issuing cards and providing benefits to beneficiaries under the scheme.  The ration cards issued under the Annapurna scheme are white in color.

The government has adopted the ‘One Nation One Card’ system to make pulses, rice and wheat easily available to the people.  Under this system, the ration card holder of any state can take ration from any corner of the country.  So far, more than 24 states have joined.