Over 12,000 residents of Bokaro, all of them being financially sound, have surrendered their ration cards to the district supply department, after realising that they do not belong to the economically weaker sections of the society.

The move follows a request made by Bokaro Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Singh in June, asking all economically able residents to surrender their ration cards.

He had asked them to hand over the cards to the District Supply Department from June 22 to December 15. Singh, satisfied with so many ration cards being collected, thanked the residents, adding that the task to deliver these cards to needy beneficiaries will be strengthened.

“On the special appeal, a total of 12,727 rich people have surrendered their ration cards so far,” supply officer Roshan Kumar Shah said.

Singh further informed that the process to deliver the ration cards to 84 primitive tribal families is underway.

On the basis of priority, a total of 2436 ration cards have been issued to people from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, people suffering from a serious illness, physically challenged persons, and widows.

Bokaro Steel City has the highest number of people, 1,926, who have surrendered their cards, followed by Gomia, where 1,897 people have done the same. In Chas, 1,782 people have handed over the ration cards, 1,354 in Bermo, 1,217 in Chandankiyari, 1,374 in Petarwar, 1,150 in Nawadih, 748 in Chandrapura, 697 in Kasmar, and 582 in Jaridih.