NFSA Cards in Gujarat: Gujarat’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Kunwarji Bavaliya, has clarified that no eligible beneficiary’s NFSA card in Gujarat will be cancelled. The state government is in the process of verifying suspicious ration cards to ensure all rightful beneficiaries continue to receive support under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
Out of the total 3.60 crore ration cards registered under NFSA in Gujarat, the Central Government has flagged 56,57,519 cards as suspicious based on discrepancies in various data sources. So far, 15,66,492 cards have been verified and certified, and the verification of the remaining cards is ongoing.
Minister’s Assurance: No Eligible Card Will Be Cancelled
Speaking to the press, Minister Bavaliya assured that the NFSA ration card of any eligible beneficiary in the state will not be cancelled. Currently, Gujarat has 3 crore 60 lakh 19 thousand 376 NFSA ration card beneficiaries.
Based on data from multiple online portals of the Central Government, a list of 56,57,519 cardholders has been submitted to the state government, marking them as suspicious. The state authorities have verified 15,66,492 of these cards and certified them as legitimate. Verification of the remaining 40,91,027 ration cards is underway.
Eligibility Criteria in Gujarat vs. Central Government
Minister Bavaliya explained that Gujarat applies stricter land criteria compared to the Central Government. According to the Central Government, people owning more than one hectare (2.47 acres) of land are included in the NFSA eligibility list. However, in Gujarat, this threshold is 5 to 7.5 acres, depending on the availability of irrigation and cropping patterns.
- Irrigated land with two crops: Limit of 5 acres for eligibility.
- Non-irrigated land with single crop: Limit of 7.5 acres for eligibility.
This stricter approach results in a smaller pool of eligible beneficiaries in Gujarat compared to the central norm.
Card Restoration Process
Minister Bavaliya stated that cards flagged as suspicious will not be cancelled but may temporarily be converted to non-NFSA ration cards. Beneficiaries can restore their NFSA status by providing the required documents at the Tehsildar office, where a dedicated verification committee has been formed under the Tehsildar’s leadership.
This process ensures that all genuine beneficiaries continue to receive their ration entitlements, maintaining transparency and fairness.
Investigation of Suspicious Cards
Authorities have already investigated several categories of ration cardholders based on various discrepancies. Here is a detailed summary:
| Category | Number of Cases Investigated | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Deceased (Aadhar data) | 1,338 | Cards updated as deceased |
| No ration taken for 6 months–1 year | 1,32,697 | Under review |
| No ration taken for more than 1 year | 9,76,085 | Verified for inactivity |
| Duplicate in same district | 22,700 | Merged or removed |
| Duplicate in other states | 3,894 | Cross-state verification |
| Beneficiaries above 100 years or below 18 years | 17,360 | Age discrepancy |
| Cards with only one member | 7,806 | Checked for validity |
| PM Kisan Yojana with >1 hectare land | 3,17,660 | Cross-verified |
| Company directors | 5,496 | Not eligible if above income threshold |
| Income >6 lakh | 79,454 | Ineligible under NFSA |
| GST turnover >25 lakh | 2,002 | Cross-checked for business income |
This meticulous verification ensures that only eligible individuals remain under NFSA benefits, preventing misuse and duplication.
Conclusion: NFSA Cards in Gujarat
The state government of Gujarat is committed to protecting the rights of all eligible NFSA beneficiaries while maintaining a transparent verification system. With 56 lakh cards under scrutiny and over 15 lakh already verified, the process is ongoing to ensure no genuine beneficiary loses their entitlement.
Minister Bavaliya’s assurances and the structured verification process demonstrate Gujarat’s careful approach to managing the NFSA cards in Gujarat while balancing both inclusion and accountability.
