Nagaland Tightens Ration Card Rules for Non-Indigenous Residents

Kohima: Nagaland officials hit non-indigenous residents with new paperwork requirements today. Applicants seeking enrolment in the General Household Scheme under the Tide Over Allocation must now prove they are not double-dipping. The Department of Food and Civil Supplies issued the order through the State IPR on July 21.

Every applicant must submit a self-declaration form. This document certifies they do not hold a ration card or take benefits from the Public Distribution System in their home state. Officials demand total transparency. This move follows previous guidelines established under the National Food Security Act of 2013.

The state is also stamping all GHH ration cards held by non-indigenous residents with a specific disclaimer. The text is blunt. It warns, "The Card issued to Non-Indigenous Residents of Nagaland is only for the purpose of issuance of food grains and not to be used/accepted as a document for proof of identity or any other purposes." These rules take effect immediately.