Ration cards exceed population in Bengal

Given the fact that there are many people with multiple voter id cards in
Bengal the election commission's discovery is not surprising.
Ration cards exceed population in Bengal (Deccan Herald, Jan 10, 2006)

And if the estimates of the food department officials are to go by, the number could be as high as 25 lakh, reports said here on Monday. The fact that West Bengal has more ration cards than its official population of eight crore, is now official.With the Election Commission cracking the whip on the West Bengal government after a fake ration cards racket was busted in state, the authorities have so far stumbled upon nearly six lakh counterfeit ration cards across the state. And if the estimates of the food department officials are to go by, the number could be as high as 25 lakh, reports said here on Monday. The fact that West Bengal has more ration cards than its official population of eight crore, is now official. The embarrassment of the state authorities can be gauged from the fact that the Election Commission which has set in motion "Operation Clean Roll" in the state prior to the assembly polls, has directed the state government to submit a report on how it could afford to ignore this serious issue for so long. The chief secretary has convened an emergency
meeting to discuss ways to curb the menace.

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