JD(S) Demands Immediate Resumption of New Ration Card Distribution Suspended for Three Years

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Mangaluru : A delegation from the Janata Dal (Secular) Dakshina Kannada district unit submitted a comprehensive memorandum to the Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs through the Deputy Commissioner in Mangaluru, raising serious concerns over the plight of citizens due to the three-year halt in the distribution of new ration cards. The opposition party strongly urged the government to intervene and take immediate measures to rectify the delay that has severely impacted the lower and middle-class populations across the state.

The memorandum highlighted that thousands of eligible families have been left stranded for the past three years, waiting to receive their new ration cards and consequently missing out on several welfare schemes and essential government benefits. The delegation pointed out that newly married couples, individuals who have moved into independent or rented houses, and economically disadvantaged groups have been hit the hardest, facing massive hardships without this critical document.

The leaders emphasized that a ration card is no longer just a tool for receiving food grains, but acts as a foundational document required to access health services, student scholarships, housing schemes, and various social security benefits. Due to the lingering delay in processing and issuing these cards, countless families are being systematically deprived of their basic socio-economic rights and constitutional benefits.

To resolve the crisis, the JD(S) laid out several demands, insisting that the government immediately reopen the application process for new cards and swiftly clear the massive backlog of pending applications. They specified that priority must be given to newlyweds and split families, the overall application and approval procedures must be simplified, and the department must announce a clear, legally binding timeline for the distribution of the cards.

Furthermore, the delegation called on the administration to optimize online portals and direct counter services to establish a more citizen-friendly ecosystem, ensuring that common people do not have to repeatedly run from pillar to post at government offices. The JD(S) leaders warned that the government must view this humanitarian issue with utmost gravity and immediately restore the ration card distribution to deliver justice to eligible households.

The delegation was led by key party figures, including JD(S) Dakshina Kannada District Working President Vasanth Poojary, Shashiraj Shetty Kolambe, District Maha General Secretary Yogish Shetty Jeppu, Fishermen Wing State President Ratnakar Suvarna, and Women’s District President Rameeza Nasir. Former Zilla Panchayat member Azeez Malar, District Secretary Priya Salian, Women’s District General Secretary Jyothi Jain, Vincent D’Souza, Women’s Vice Presidents Chudamani and Sharada Shetty, alongside Javeed Selim, Jeppu Ibrahim, Selim Abdul Karim Jeppu, and several other prominent party leaders and workers were also present.