Ration Card

Ration Card

Ration cards in Uttar Pradesh (UP) provide access to a variety of benefits for eligible households, mainly aimed at helping low-income families meet their food and nutritional needs. These benefits are primarily offered under the Public Distribution System (PDS). Below are the key benefits associated with UP ration cards:

1. Subsidized Food Grains

• Priority Household (PHH) Ration Card: Families under this category receive monthly food grains at subsidized rates:
  • Rice: ₹3 per kg
  • Wheat: ₹2 per kg
  • Coarse grains: ₹1 per kg
• Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) Ration Card: These are for the poorest households, where they are provided 35 kg of food grains (including rice and wheat) at highly subsidized rates.

2. Free Ration under Special Schemes

• Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY): This scheme was implemented to support families during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering free ration (5 kg of wheat or rice per person per month) to PHH and AAY cardholders in addition to their regular entitlements.
• As part of other emergency relief efforts, the government occasionally announces free ration distribution to help families during crises like floods or droughts.

3. Kerosene

• Ration cardholders, particularly in rural areas, may also receive kerosene at subsidized rates. However, with the increasing coverage of LPG connections under the Ujjwala scheme, kerosene distribution has reduced.

4. Eligibility for Other Government Schemes

• Having a ration card often serves as proof of identity and income status for availing various other government welfare schemes such as housing, healthcare benefits, and scholarships for children from low-income families.

5. Types of Ration Cards in UP

• APL (Above Poverty Line): Though this card provides limited benefits, it may still give access to certain government schemes.
• BPL (Below Poverty Line): Provides access to highly subsidized food grains and other essentials.
• AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana): Specially for the poorest of the poor, with more significant subsidies and benefits.
• PHH (Priority Household): For low-income families, providing monthly food grain entitlements.

6. Income-Based Segmentation

• The ration card categories are determined based on the family's income and socio-economic status. UP government has categorized the families into different segments (PHH, AAY, etc.) to target subsidies more efficiently.

These ration cards are essential for helping poor families in Uttar Pradesh maintain basic nutrition and gain access to necessary government support.