No smart cards, no food!

It was only when the Government began free food distribution in March and April that we realised how many people – especially Gypsies and tribal people – do not have their family ration smart cards yet.

These cards are issued to poorer families to purchase subsidised groceries at designated stores. Without the cards, people cannot access the free rice distributed by the Government during the Covid emergency. Many families were missing out.

Since then, we have been working hard to help people apply on-line for the cards. Malar Trust India staff have visited all the villages where we work to check who needs the cards and to arrange for them to visit our offices so that we can help them with the application process.