Jharkhand minister says Aadhaar not mandatory to collect ration after 11-year-old dies of starvation

Jamshedpur: The Jharkhand government on Saturday said Aadhaar card was not mandatory to collect food grains from the public distribution system after a 11-year-old girl allegedly died of starvation. [caption id=“attachment_4161989” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] Local activists had alleged that the girl died of starvation on 28 September after her family was denied ration for the want of an Aadhar-linked ration card. “Aadhaar card is not mandatory. Any card, including a driver’s license and voter ID card or any specified card, is permissible for procuring food grains,” the state’s food minister Saryu Roy said. A toll free number – 1800 212 55 12 – had been set up to lodge complaints regarding ration distribution, Roy said, adding that grain banks would also be set up in every block. Meanwhile, a fresh probe announced by Chief Minister Raghubar Das on 17 October had found that the girl died of malaria, officials said. The first probe by a three-member team, which was constituted on 6 October, also examined the case and found the girl died of malaria, they said.