55 Lakh Ration Card Holders in Gujarat Under Scrutiny: Landowners, Company Directors, and Income Tax Payers Availing Free Grain

Accountability Questions: Who Issued These Cards?

In a surprising revelation, the Gujarat government has identified around 55 lakh suspicious ration card holders across the state who may be ineligible to receive free food grains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Among these are landowners, company directors, and individuals with an annual turnover of over ₹25 lakh, who are allegedly availing benefits meant for the poor.

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While Gujarat boasts of development under the "Vibrant Gujarat" campaign, the reality seems contradictory, with nearly half the population dependent on free grain schemes. The Food and Civil Supplies Department has now launched an investigation to weed out ineligible beneficiaries from the NFSA list.

2,000 Individuals with ₹25 Lakh Turnover Availing NFSA Benefits

Currently, there are 3.60 crore NFSA ration card holders in Gujarat, receiving free wheat and rice. However, questions have been raised about the authenticity of these beneficiaries. Initial investigations revealed that over 15.66 lakh ration cards have already been converted from NFSA to non-NFSA due to eligibility issues.

Shockingly, the list of beneficiaries includes 5,467 company directors and thousands of others with substantial financial capacity, yet still receiving government-subsidized food. Officials have stated that these individuals have been served notices to explain their eligibility, and district-level committees will decide whether their NFSA status should continue.

Free Grain Taken in the Name of Deceased Persons

• Further scrutiny revealed widespread misuse of the scheme:
• In many cases, food grains were collected in the names of deceased individuals.
• Over 3,500 cardholders were found to possess ration cards from more than one state.
• Around 22,000 cards were found to have duplicate names.
• Some cardholders haven't collected rations for over a year.

20 Lakh New NFSA Beneficiaries Added in Just Two Years

The number of people receiving free grains under NFSA has surged from 3.45 crore in 2022-23 to 3.65 crore in 2025, an increase of 20 lakh people in just two years. This has raised serious questions about the verification process and the overall integrity of the system.

Who Is Responsible for Issuing These Cards?

While the government has begun canceling ineligible cards, a pressing question remains: Who approved and issued these ration cards in the first place? Despite large-scale irregularities, no action has been taken against the responsible officials or entities.

Will the Government Investigate Who Consumed the Grains?

The Food and Civil Supplies Department claims to be taking steps to remove ineligible beneficiaries. But concerns persist about whether there will be an investigation into how thousands of tons of food grains meant for the poor were diverted or misused.

A Tale of Two Narratives: Publicity First, Accountability Later?

Critics argue that the state government first sought praise by distributing free food grains under welfare schemes, and now seeks recognition again by canceling ineligible ration cards. Despite various poverty alleviation schemes, the ground reality suggests that benefits are not reaching the truly needy, and systemic corruption has enabled the affluent to exploit resources meant for the underprivileged.