1.82 lakh railway employees flagged as potential ration card beneficiaries (Representative image)
In a communication dated November 11, the Railway Board said the Department of Food and Public Distribution, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, had identified these employees during a nationwide exercise aimed at ensuring that NFSA benefits reach eligible beneficiaries. Because of their employment status or income tax liability arising from such employment, the Board pointed out that under the exclusion criteria notified by most state governments and Union Territory administrations, employees of government departments, public sector undertakings, autonomous bodies and local authorities are ineligible for NFSA benefits, either.
LUCKNOW: A railway job comes with a government salary, but some employees may also be eligible for subsidised ration, at least according to preliminary data. “The exercise is intended to identify ineligible beneficiaries and ensure that subsidised foodgrains meant for economically vulnerable households are not diverted to those excluded under applicable eligibility rules,” an official source said.