55,839 ‘ghost’ beneficiaries haunt Shimla’s ration system

An official review of the public distribution system in Shimla district has unearthed 55,839 suspicious ration card beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, 2013, raising serious questions over the integrity of welfare delivery. The findings came during a joint meeting of the district-level Vigilance Committee and the Public Distribution Committee.

According to official figures, Shimla has 66,230 families with a total of 2,69,425 beneficiaries covered under the scheme. However, scrutiny revealed anomalies ranging from deceased cardholders to affluent landowners and high-income families drawing rations meant for the poor.

Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap, who chaired the meeting, said the district administration is committed to improving transparency in ration distribution. “The public distribution system must serve only those who genuinely qualify. We are removing irregularities at every level,” he said.

He further directed all Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) to carry out monthly surprise inspections in at least five government schools to check food quality, seating, and kitchen hygiene under the mid-day meal scheme. “Clean and nutritious food for children is a government priority,” Kashyap stressed.

Shimla has 623 fair price shops, including 347 run by cooperatives, 229 by individuals, two by Mahila Mandals, four by gram panchayats and 41 managed by the Himachal Pradesh State Civil Supplies Corporation. Between June and August 2025, 1,257 inspections were conducted, exposing irregularities in 12 shops. Penalties worth Rs 20,250 were imposed, while approval was given for opening additional shops.

The revelations underline a larger problem in India’s welfare distribution system — the leakage of subsidies to ineligible beneficiaries at the expense of the poorest households. With more than 55,000 suspicious entries in just one district, the scale of misuse could be staggering across the state.