430. Use RTI to get Ration Card

Fast . . .

Questions: Dear Sir, My friend, resident of Dakshin Dinajpur District of West Bengal, got married to a girl who is from Bangladesh. They have two daughters. Thus, the father of the kids is an Indian citizen and mother is a Bangladesi cititen. Both the daughter (twins) took birth in India and they have valid birth certificate. When my friend approached to appropriate authority for the ration card of his daughters, it was denied since the mother is not Indian citizen. I would like to know when both the kids are citizen of India by birth, why have been denied to give ration card ? Please advice. Thanks and Regards, Subrata Pal Answer: Being an Indian Citizen and residing in India, I fail to see why your friend is being denied a ration card on the basis of his marriage to a foreign citizen. If your friend was officially denied a ration card, he can always use the RTI process to get satisfaction. Many people have used this avenue satisfactorily. The cost to file a RTI is only Rupees 10. RTI seems to have helped many applicants get their ration cards, often in a matter of days of using RTI. There was a study done last year that confirmed that RTI did help ration card applicants, who had initially been denied. You can read this article by clicking HERE. All Indian citizens, who permanently reside in India, have a right to apply for ration cards. The Citizens’ Charter, issued in November, 1997 for adoption by the State Governments was revised in the year 2007, and circulated to all States/Union Territories for its adoption and implementation. On the subject of Ration Cards, according to the Citizens Charter: The criteria prescribing eligibility and procedure for issuance of ration cards will be widely publicized and made available to all citizens on demand. Receipt of application for ration card will be duly acknowledged. The acknowledgement will indicate the date on which the ration card can be collected, provided all the required information has been correctly given. The ration card holders will be suitably advised and guided regarding the Fair Price Shops at which they could register for obtaining supplies. The names, designations, telephone numbers and addresses of officials, to whom grievances/complaints relating to delay or rejection of applications for ration cards could be addressed, will be prominently displayed at the concerned office premises. All grievances/complaints and other correspondence will be duly registered and acknowledged on the spot, if given in person, or within 7 days by post. You can read the full document on the Internet by copying and pasting the link provided below in your browser: http://fcamin.nic.in/dfpd/EventDetails.asp?EventI d=21&Section=PDS&ParentID=0&Parent=1&chec k=0