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Maharashtra

Freebies To End For Many? Maharashtra Deletes Over 7.5 Million Ration Card Beneficiaries After Centre Flags Ineligible Names

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Mumbai: The Maharashtra government deleted more than 7.5 million names from the list of beneficiaries receiving free food grains under central schemes through a major verification drive aimed at ensuring that food subsidies reach only eligible households. The action followed the Centre flagging 17.8 million ration card holders in the state as potentially ineligible for exceeding prescribed income limits, officials confirmed.

The exercise was carried out by the state’s food and civil supplies department after the Centre shared data compiled from eight departments, including the income tax department, transport authorities and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Information from schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) was also used to identify suspected ineligible beneficiaries.

While the Centre provided the list of flagged beneficiaries, it left the final verification and deletion to the states. In Maharashtra, the verification drive began in July last year, with officials conducting door-to-door checks to confirm income levels and residency status. So far, 7.5 million names have been removed following this scrutiny.

Maharashtra currently has over 68 million beneficiaries registered under around 16.5 million yellow and orange ration cards, entitling them to 5 kg of free food grains per person per month. Yellow ration cards are issued to families with an annual income of up to Rs 15,000, while orange cards are given to families earning up to Rs 1 lakh annually.

Of the 17.8 million names flagged by the Centre, a major number were identified based on landholdings exceeding one hectare. However, the Maharashtra government did not delete beneficiaries solely on this basis, as landholding is not a criterion under the state’s income-based eligibility norms. The state instead undertook a separate verification of the remaining 9.4 million beneficiaries.

“During the drive, names of beneficiaries who had died, migrated or crossed the income threshold were removed,” an official from the food and civil supplies department said. Verification of the remaining beneficiaries is still underway.

Officials said that the removal of ineligible beneficiaries will allow the inclusion of deserving households currently on waiting lists. “The 5 kg ration of wheat and rice per family member is fully sponsored by the Centre. After deleting 7.5 million ineligible beneficiaries, an equal number of new eligible families will be added,” the official told Media. Those excluded from the scheme due to higher income have been issued white ration cards, meant for families earning Rs 1 lakh or more annually.

The state government is also considering revising income eligibility limits, which were set after the National Food Security Act came into force in 2013. A committee headed by Chandrakant Dange, controller of rationing and director of civil supplies, has been formed to study new benchmarks based on hunger indicators, wage levels and per capita income.

“Other states have raised their income limits to between Rs 1.4 lakh and Rs 2.4 lakh. We will take a data-backed decision soon,” Dange said, as quoted by Media, noting that lower thresholds have caused Mumbai and Thane to fall short of the Centre’s beneficiary targets.

Maharashtra

UP gangster wanted under Gangster Act arrested from Mumbai, major police operation UP police sent accused to UP

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Mumbai: Police has succeeded in arresting a gangster and gang leader from Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh. He is residing here hiding his identity. Mumbai Police received information that he is hiding in Bay Hotel. After which Yellow Gate Police arrested gangster and gang leader Nishant Rajesh Singh (23), wanted in three cases in Sitapur. In the initial investigation, he tried to mislead the police, but later he told that he belongs to UP and later Mumbai Police contacted Uttar Pradesh Police and it came to know that he is wanted in three cases in Sitapur including theft, illegal weapons, Gangster Act, after which UP Police came to Mumbai today and took the accused into custody and took him to Uttar Pradesh. This operation was carried out by DCP Vijay Kant Sagar on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti.

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Maharashtra

A very rare surgery: Rajawadi Hospital team successfully removes a 5.5 kg, 30 cm tumor from the uterus of a 46-year-old woman

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A 46-year-old woman from Mankhurd, Mumbai, had been suffering from health problems like persistent abdominal swelling, abdominal pain and difficulty in breathing for the past two years. In view of these symptoms, she sought treatment at the Outpatient Department (OPD) of the Gynaecology Department at BMC-run Seth Vadelal Chhatrapati Gandhi and Monji Amidas Vora Municipal General Hospital (Rajawadi Hospital) in Ghatkopar. The hospital team successfully removed a tumour weighing around 5.5 kg and measuring 30 cm from the patient’s uterus. As her symptoms worsened significantly, a comprehensive review of her medical history, physical examination and necessary diagnostic tests were conducted. These tests revealed a uterine tumour measuring around 30 cm. Initial diagnosis suggested that the mass was a ‘giant leiomyoma’ (fibroid). All necessary precautions and planning were taken to deal with possible complications during and after the surgery, and the procedure was performed later. Dr. Swadina B. Mohanty, Dr. Shalini Bagaria, Dr. Arva Kamble, and Dr. Kajal Salvi played a key role in the surgery performed by the Gynecology Department. Dr. Shreyash and Dr. Netra, under the guidance of anesthesiologist Dr. Chhavi, managed the anesthesia team. Additionally, surgical staff nurse Neelakshi Guru and her team provided vital support during the surgery. Due to the large size of the tumor and the extensive network of blood vessels, the surgery was performed with utmost care. The 5.5 kg tumor removed during the procedure has been sent for histopathological examination, and the final report is awaited. Post-surgery, the patient received specialized care and was discharged from the hospital on the fifth day in excellent health. Cases of such large uterine tumors are extremely rare.

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Maharashtra

Immediate financial assistance and rehabilitation for the victims of the Bhiwandi Kohinoor building tragedy and strict action against the culprits. Abu Asim Azmi

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has written a letter to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde, and Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Mukrandji Jadhav, appealing for justice for the victims of the tragic and serious incident of collapse of the four-storey Kohinoor building in Balaji Nagar area of ​​Bhiwandi city. Through the letter, MLA Abu Asim Azmi has put forward important demands and issues, including raising questions about administrative negligence.

The Bhiwandi Nizampur City Municipal Corporation had earlier declared the building ‘extremely dangerous’ and issued a notice. Despite this, the administration failed to take timely and concrete steps to ensure the safe rehabilitation of the residents. Lives were lost due to administrative delay and negligence. Along with immediate assistance to the deceased and injured, he demanded that the government immediately provide financial assistance to the families of the citizens who lost their lives in the accident and ensure that all the injured are provided with the best medical treatment at government expense. Regarding the structural audit of the most dangerous buildings, Azmi said that a ‘structural audit’ of all the dilapidated and most dangerous buildings in Bhiwandi city should be conducted immediately, and arrangements for the temporary and permanent rehabilitation of their residents should be made without delay. Azmi has also demanded strict action against the guilty officials and has said that strict legal and administrative action should be taken against the officials responsible for this major accident and the negligence associated with it. Abu Asim Azmi has appealed to the government to take suo motu notice of the matter and ensure that justice and relief reach the affected families in Bhiwandi as soon as possible.

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