Randhawa raises ration card bifurcation issue with Union MoS
11/08/2026
NEW DELHI, Aug 10: Senior BJP leader and Bahu MLA Ch Vikram Randhawa raised the issue of ration card bifurcation and functioning of the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Jammu and Kashmir during a meeting with Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Nimuben Bambhaniya, here on Monday.
Randhawa highlighted the difficulties being faced by families in Jammu and Kashmir over the non-bifurcation of ration cards. He said many households that had subsequently divided into separate families continued to remain covered under a single ration card, creating difficulties in accessing food security benefits.
He informed the Union Minister that the J&K administration had been citing alleged restrictions by the Government of India for not permitting bifurcation of ration cards.
According to Randhawa, the Union Minister clarified that no order or directive had been issued by the Centre prohibiting the bifurcation of ration cards.
Randhawa said the clarification raised concerns over the manner in which the issue was being handled in Jammu and Kashmir and urged the administration to address the grievances of affected families.
He also raised concerns regarding the functioning of fair price shops across the Union Territory. Randhawa said some ration depots were reportedly catering to 800 to 1,000 families, despite the prescribed norm of around 250 families per licence.
He said the J&K Government could issue additional depot licences to improve accessibility and streamline ration distribution and urged the administration to take necessary steps in this regard.
Randhawa requested the Union Minister to visit Jammu and Kashmir along with senior departmental officials to assess the implementation of the PDS and interact with beneficiaries.
The Minister assured Randhawa that she would endeavour to visit the Union Territory around September to review the functioning of the PDS and examine the issues raised during the meeting.
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