Civil supplies department provides ration cards to rehabilitated homeless

PANAJI: The department of civil supplies has taken up the procedure of handing over ration cards, after verification, to the rehabilitated homeless persons of Goa. These are the people who have been recuperating in shelter homes after being rescued from the streets. So far, 50-odd ration cards have been issued to the needy, through which they will be entitled to avail of 5kg of rice per month.

“It can be challenging in cases involving homeless people because Aadhaar verification and biometrics are now compulsory,” secretary, civil supplies, Sanjith Rodrigues told TOI. “However, the genuine need far outscores all other parameters.”

The National Food Security Act, 2013, lays emphasis on targeted public distribution, especially to the priority households. Keeping this in mind, the department has enabled the issuance of ration cards to welfare institutions of which Street Providence is one.

The shelter homes run by Street Providence care for about 160 homeless people, many of whom already have their Aadhaar cards registered in their native villages, enabling them to apply for ration cards.

“Our monthly requirement of rice is almost 1,000kg,” said the founder of Street Providence, Donald Fernandes. “We have picked up 265kg of rice allocated for 53 homeless people at 5kg per person.” He added, “In addition, a civil supplies inspector, after conducting his routine check of the shelter home, donated a few bags of rice in February as he was moved seeing the type of people we take care of.”

Another community that the civil supplies department is helping is the Wanarmare tribe at Ponda and Pernem where most members have been issued ration cards.

“We appeal to welfare institutions to apply and avail of this outreach which will, to some extent, alleviate their need and ensure food security and freedom from hunger in the true spirit of the Act,” Rodrigues said.


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