New Delhi, March 16 (Representative) The poor need not get a new ration card whenever they move to a new place to draw ration, Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday. They only need to remember their Aadhaar card number wherever they go and they will be identified through the biometric system and get ration, the Minister told the Lok Sabha.
Goyal said this in reply to a supplementary question. He clarified that it was not necessary for the poor to make a new ration card when they move to a new place and the ration can be easily obtained by stating their identity biometrically at the ration shop. He said that this facility was applicable in the entire country. He also there were problems in Assam due to technical reasons but the issue had been resolved. Goyal said that 97 per cent ration card holders in the country were now connected to the system. Out of 80 crore ration card holders, 77 crore were given this facility. He said that under the Pradhan Mantri Anna Yojana, 5 kg extra ration was being given to the poor. On a question about putting money directly into the account of the poor, he said that technical aspects as well as several other issues have been discussed and appropriate action will be taken at the right time.