Kolkata, Nov 22:
A bizarre claim is making rounds on social media: “A 17-year-old entity called KKR (formed in 2008) had a 46-year-old daughter in 2012 when it was just four years old.” While obviously satirical, it reflects rising public frustration over age and identity mismatches — a growing issue in government documentation.
The humor hides a serious warning.
In West Bengal, early data from November reveals that 40% of ration card holders have not collected their rations till the 21st of the month — a drastic shift from the usual trend of 95% collection by mid-month.
Political observers suggest this could be linked to the ongoing SIR (Social Identity Rectification) scrutiny and mass verification of ration cards, raising concerns of a potential 2 crore-plus deletions from the public distribution records.
Officials are investigating whether these non-collections indicate:
— Fake or duplicate ration cards
— Beneficiaries unable to verify documents
— Fear among citizens due to stricter biometric and eligibility checks
Social analysts point out that West Bengal’s ration coverage is among the highest in India, and any large-scale deletion may significantly impact access to subsidized food grains and welfare schemes.
While government authorities assert that identity verification will ensure transparency and prevent leakages, critics argue that genuine beneficiaries risk exclusion due to faulty data, outdated records, and mismatched identity details — much like the humorous KKR example circulating online.
The coming weeks will be crucial as data verification continues, potentially leading to what experts warn could become the largest public welfare record correction in Bengal’s history.
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