Ration Card Necessary for Benefits of Ujjwala and Ayushman Bharat Schemes

According to a report today, the ration card is no longer merely a tool for obtaining cheap or free grains, but has become an important document proving family identity to avail benefits of several government schemes. Specifically, schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) and Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) require a ration card or other government documents showing the family composition.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, LPG connections are provided without any security deposit to adult women of eligible poor families. To avail of this scheme, the woman must be at least 18 years of age. Additionally, the condition is that no member of the family should have had an LPG connection in their name previously. In this scheme, the ration card is primarily used to verify the information and number of family members. If a beneficiary does not have a ration card, they may present any other valid document showing family composition issued by the state or central government.

Regarding the documents required for the Ujjwala scheme, if the current address information on the Aadhaar card is correct, it can be used as address proof. However, if the address is different, it is mandatory to provide other valid proof of address. Along with providing connections without a security deposit under this scheme, the first refill gas cylinder and a stove are also provided free of cost to eligible beneficiaries.

On the other hand, under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), eligible families receive cashless treatment facilities up to ₹5 lakh per year. Before availing of this scheme, it is necessary for an individual to check whether their name is included in the government beneficiary list. It is important to note here that it is not mandatory for every person to have a ration card to make an Ayushman card. According to the National Health Authority (NHA), an Aadhaar card or other valid government identity proof can be used for the individual identity of the beneficiary, while a ration card or other valid family documents are used to prove family identity.

Documents and eligibility conditions for obtaining an Ayushman card may vary according to the state and the category of the beneficiary. A special provision in this scheme has been made for all senior citizens aged 70 years or above. For them, the 'Ayushman Vay Vandana Card' has been introduced, through which they too can receive cashless treatment up to ₹5 lakh. Aadhaar-based e-KYC is required for registration in this category, and the Aadhaar card serves as the primary document in this process.

The report further states that eligible families receive free or subsidized grains from government ration shops through the ration card. As it is an important proof linked to the identity of family members, it is accepted as evidence in many government schemes. However, a ration card is not mandatory in every government scheme; other government documents are also kept valid in some schemes. Therefore, it is necessary to check the eligibility and required document conditions before applying for any scheme.

Those who do not have a ration card and wish to obtain one can apply online by visiting the website of their state's Food and Civil Supplies Department. Through this process, they can easily obtain a ration card and subsequently make the benefits of various government schemes available.