One Nation One Ration Card Misused: Families Take Benefits Despite Leaving Village

National News:A small village named Nalakheda in Bhopal district, just 42 kilometers from the district headquarters, is at the center of a serious investigation into alleged misuse of Below Poverty Line (BPL) benefits. Official records show all 240 families in the village as BPL households, meaning they qualify for subsidized food and other welfare benefits. But a government inquiry has revealed that many of these families are not eligible.

Suspicion Over Entire Village Being BPL

The matter came to light when officials from the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution noticed something unusual—an entire village marked under the BPL category. This is highly uncommon, so they ordered a detailed inspection to verify the authenticity of the list.

Families Missing From the Village

When the inspection began, investigators found that 71 of the families listed in the BPL records do not actually live in Nalakheda. In addition, 63 families own more than one hectare of land, which should automatically disqualify them from receiving BPL benefits. Some of these families even pay income tax, further confirming that they do not fall into the economically weaker category.

Only six families in the entire village were found to be landless, which is generally considered a sign of genuine poverty. These findings raise serious doubts about how and why the list was prepared in its current form.

Investigation Team Formed

Bhopal District Collector Kaushlendra Vikram Singh stated that the investigation is being conducted as per the ministry’s instructions. A special team has been formed for the investigation, including a food inspector, a patwari (land records official), the panchayat secretary, and a gram sevak (village-level worker). This team is going door-to-door to collect information about each family’s land, income, and residency status.

Once the investigation is complete, the report will be sent to the state government. Officials have said that strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty of providing false information or manipulating records.

Cancellation of Ineligible Cards

As the process moves forward, ration cards belonging to ineligible families are already being cancelled. Authorities aim to ensure that benefits are provided only to genuinely eligible BPL households. The Collector stressed that misuse of government schemes not only wastes resources but also deprives needy families of their rightful share.

One Ration Card Scheme Ensures Food Access Nationwide

Another issue uncovered is that families who have left the village are still receiving subsidized food. Under the One Nation, One Ration Card scheme, eligible BPL beneficiaries are allowed to collect their ration from anywhere in the country. This flexibility has, in this case, allowed people to keep drawing rations despite not living in Nalakheda.

District Supply Controller Chandrabhan Singh Jadaun said the department is now tracking where these absent families are collecting their rations and whether fraud is involved.

A Wake-Up Call for Welfare Monitoring

The Nalakheda case highlights the need for stricter monitoring of welfare schemes. Officials warn that similar irregularities could exist in other regions, resulting in wastage of public funds. The ongoing inquiry will decide the next steps, but it has already exposed serious flaws in how BPL lists are maintained and verified.