HP government to launch electronic ration card

SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh government today said it will issue electronic ration card under public distribution system in the state to enable the card holders to draw ration from any depot, ending the monopoly of depot holders.

Food and Civil Supplies minister GS Bali today told the state Assembly that a proposal of Rs 20 crore for introducing electronic ration cards system has been sent to the Centre for approval.

A provision of Rs 175 crore has also been made in the budget to continue the subsidised ration scheme for all ration card holders.

Participating in debate on budget for 2013-14, he said that the government has decided to increase the quota of mustard oil from one litre to two litres per month and stop the supply of gram and replace it by green gram, lens and black gram pulses.