Haryana Reserves 33 Percent of Ration Depots for Women in a Groundbreaking Move
Haryana has allocated 33 per cent of its ration depots exclusively to women, with widows and victims of acid attacks receiving priority. In order to tackle the backlog of women in already operational ration depots, new licences have been granted with a specific provision to prioritise and accommodate them.
Haryana has introduced an online portal called “Fair Price Shop” to streamline the process of granting licences for 3,224 new ration depots across various regions within the state. Aspiring applicants can conveniently apply online through this portal until August 7.
This marks the first instance where the application and selection process for ration depots is being implemented through the online portal. Of the 3,224 ration depots, a significant majority of 2,382 will be apportioned to women.
New ration depots will be distributed in accordance with the PDS Control Order 2022 that took effect on August 1, 2022. To ensure fairness, a ration depot will be set up for every 300 beneficiary ration cards, as per the order.
All applications submitted through the Antyodaya Saral portal by August 7 will undergo scrutiny and district-level selection during August. The list of new depot holders will be announced on September 1, 2023. Eligibility criteria include being a resident of the respective ward or village, aged between 21 and 45 years, and possessing a 12th-standard qualification. Basic computer knowledge is also mandatory.
The recent initiative marks a remarkable stride in empowering women and addressing gender inequality. The state’s prioritisation of widows and acid attack victims underscores its dedication to supporting and assisting the most vulnerable members of society.
