Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug 19: S. Tejeswara Rao, Chairman, Unorganised Workers & Employees Congress, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has urged the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor and Vice-Chairman of the Islands Development Agency (IDA), through the Chief Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar Administration, to take immediate and time-bound action on the serious public welfare problems relating to blocked Ration Cards and pending Islander Card applications.
Mr. Tejeswara Rao stated that Ration Cards and Islander Cards are not merely identity documents. For thousands of ordinary residents, economically weaker families and unorganised-sector workers, these documents are directly connected with food security, welfare benefits, public services, travel requirements and access to essential Government facilities.
Thousands of Families Reportedly Affected
According to the representation submitted by the organisation, a large number of genuine Ration Cards have remained blocked or inactive for several months and, in some cases, for more than a year, despite repeated applications through Common Service Centres (CSCs) and concerned Government offices.
The major concern, he said, is that applicants are often not provided with a clear reason for the blockage, the present status of their application, or a definite timeline for resolution.
Documented Case Submitted for Verification
As one documentary example, a genuine family has reportedly been facing difficulties for more than one year despite repeated applications for reactivation.
The representation has provided the following details for verification by the competent authority:
Ration Card No.: 35300001443945
Smart Card No.: 351100069954
In this case, one daughter’s name was removed/surrendered from the family’s Ration Card after her marriage, and her name was subsequently included in her husband’s Ration Card in Andhra Pradesh. However, the Ration Card of the remaining family members in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands was thereafter blocked and has reportedly remained inactive despite repeated representations.
Mr. Tejeswara Rao emphasised that this is being cited only as a documentary example for official verification, and that there are reportedly many other families facing similar difficulties.
Demand for a Special Drive
The Unorganised Workers & Employees Congress has requested the Administration to immediately undertake a special island-wide drive to:
1. Identify all blocked, inactive and long-pending Ration Cards.
2. Reactivate all genuine and eligible Ration Cards on priority after necessary verification.
3. Provide applicants with the specific reason and current status whenever a Ration Card is blocked or kept pending.
4. Establish a time-bound mechanism for disposal of pending applications.
5. Ensure that genuine families are not subjected to repeated visits to Government offices for the same issue.
Mr. Tejeswara Rao has also called for a special drive for the renewal, correction and updating of Islander Cards, including the addition of children and other eligible dependent family members.
He highlighted that the Islander Card has particular importance for people living in remote and outlying islands, including the Nicobar Group and geographically isolated areas of the Andaman Islands.
For such residents, the Islander Card is not simply a convenience. It is an essential practical requirement for travel, medical and emergency travel, access to essential services, family-related requirements and various Government facilities.
Mr. Tejeswara Rao stated that residents of remote islands often face considerable difficulties in travelling to administrative offices merely to follow up on a pending document.
He therefore appealed to the Administration to introduce a transparent, accessible and time-bound system through which applicants can know the reason for rejection or blockage, the status of their application and the steps required for resolution.
Mr. Tejeswara Rao said, “For many economically weaker families and unorganised-sector workers, a Ration Card is a lifeline. Similarly, for residents of remote and outlying islands, an Islander Card is not a convenience but an essential necessity. Genuine residents should not be made to wait for months or years for these basic documents.”
He further appealed to the Lieutenant Governor and the Andaman & Nicobar Administration to treat the matter as a priority public welfare issue and to ensure a swift, transparent and time-bound solution for every eligible family.