Ration card registration: SMS procedure leaves citizens in lurch

Mangalore, Jul 10: In an attempt to weed out bogus ration cards, the Department of Food and Civil Supplies directed existing cardholders to submit their EPIC card (voter identity card) number. If the applicants have an Aadhaar card, the UID number of family members can be submitted.

However, the new procedure of registering ration cards through SMS has left people with burdens and woes in Mangalore City Corporation limits. There are long queues at Mangalore One centre located in MCC building with queries of confirmation of registering the ration cards. Several approached the department complaining over the complications of the procedure.

The SMS procedure may be easy for some to register, but those without a mobile number face a problem with this process. For example, there is no clear information on whether details could be sent through another's mobile phone.

Due to this, Yashoda Nair from Urwa Store, is stumped as to how to send her EPIC card number or other details without owning a personal mobile phone. She even considers it a hassle to send details through a mobile number belonging to someone else.

Moreover, only three ration cards can be registered using one phone number, thus posing another problem to citizens with more number of family members.

Others such as Shailesh grieve that after registering their details through SMS, they are again sent to Mangalore One centre by ration shops to confirm their registration. Sometimes, they are asked even for a confirmation letter confirming their registration.

Dozens of ration cardholders throng daily to the Mangalore One centre with complaints seeking clarity regarding the SMS procedure of registration, as it is essential not only for monthly ration, but also for kerosene subsidy.

An elderly citizen Padmanabha Shenoy complained that lack of proper information and complicated procedure had left several like him running from post to post, in order to get their ration card registered.

While the department had earlier set a deadline of June 30 for BPL cardholders to submit details of their ration cards and EPIC card numbers of family members, the deadline had been extended to July 15. However, it is necessary for the department to extend the deadline further.