Winning Bizness Desk

Mumbai. Very few people have given the thought about the importance of the Ration Card, which is used in many places as an identity card and to take benefits of government schemes in terms of food grains and other items related to food. Ration card is issued by the government of every state for the citizens of that state. There are many families in the country who are not able to eat enough food even for two times. The government provides ration to such families free of cost and at low rates every month. It is used as an identity card to make many documents like domicile certificate, residence certificate, voter ID, Aadhaar card. Only Indians can apply for the ration card. Ration card is made only in the name of the head of the family. The age of the head should be 18 years or more. The names of all the members of the family are written on the ration card.

Introduced in India in the 1940s

Ration cards were introduced in India in the 1940s during the famine in Bengal. After this, it was given the form of a plan from 14 January 1945 during the Second World War. During the 1960s, many people began to struggle with food shortages. After which the government restarted the ration system. Ration cards are in four colours. Blue and Yellow is given to families living below the poverty line. In many states its color is also yellow or green. The income of people living in rural areas should not exceed Rs 6400 per year and in urban areas the income should not exceed Rs 11,850 per year. Ration is given at subsidy to the card holders.

Pink & White Colours

Pink colour card is given to those families whose annual income is below the poverty line limit. The photo of the chief is affixed on the card. Through this card, food grains are available on subsidy. While white card is issued to those people who are financially prosperous and do not require subsidized ration. This card is used as an identity card or address proof.

BPL ration card: This is issued for those families who are living below poverty line. The government gives things like pulses, rice, wheat, flour, salt, oil, kerosene, sugar to the BPL card holder at a very low price. Special care is taken that there should not be any problem in reaching the ration to the BPL card holders. Through this card, 25 to 35 kg ration is provided every month.

APL Card: APL ration card of people living Above Poverty Line. People who belong to lower class or middle class. The families holding this card are not given ration at low rates every month, rather the government prepares a special package for them, only then they can avail the benefits, the family gets ration up to 15 kg. That is, when the material is more and is left after giving it to the BPL card holder, it can be given to the APL card holder.

Antyodaya Anna Yojana Ration Card: This card is issued by the government for those people who come under the category of extremely poor. That is, those who do not have any means of income or such families whose head does not have a fixed income. Along with this, such families in which the head is disabled, widow or senior citizen. Antyodaya Anna Yojana card is issued by the government for such families. In which a family is given up to 35 kg of food grains.

Temporary Ration Card: This ration card is mainly issued to the Banjaras. Those who have no place to live. Their validity is only for 3 months.