On 7th October 2024, In Gandhi Gram Post Ashram, Motipur, there is a group of 40 leprosy patients, all of whom are ration cardholders and depend on assistance to obtain essential rations. These individuals, due to their particular circumstances, receive their ration supplies based on verification of identification by Vikas Mitra, a community-level facilitator appointed to assist marginalized groups. Unlike the standard procedure for ration distribution, these ration cardholders are exempt from the usual KYC (Know Your Customer) process, as their identification and entitlement verification rely solely on Vikas Mitra’s confirmation. While effective for these patients, this setup deviates from the broader ration distribution system.
To formalize this arrangement and ensure its continuity, all the cardholders recently submitted a memorandum through the M.O. and B.D.O. (Block Development Officer) of Motipur. The initiative was spearheaded by Someshwar Dubey, APAL’s State Coordinator in Bihar, who advocated for the interests of the leprosy-affected group. This memorandum seeks official recognition of the current distribution method, enabling them to continue accessing rations without the need for KYC. In response, local authorities have pledged to forward the memorandum to the district administration. Any requisite directives will be issued at the district level to institutionalize this arrangement, thereby ensuring uninterrupted access to essential rations for these patients.
