Tensions erupted at a government ration shop in Chhattisgarh. The incident occured at the Ward Number 3 of Gariaband district on Sunday. This comes after many frustrated beneficiaries were forced open the shop’s main gate after hours of waiting. The crowd was so massive leading to a stampede-like situation at the shop.

ये हमारे देश की जनता है और ये छत्तीसगढ़ का गरियाबंद है, ऐसे गेट खुलते ही भागने को मजबूर हैं क्योंकि नई मशीन है, 3 महीने का राशन साथ मिलना है एक दिन में बमुश्किल 20-22 लोगों को राशन मिल रहा है pic.twitter.com/t4oCkYracN

— Anurag Dwary (@Anurag_Dwary) June 23, 2025

Anger Boils Over After Prolonged Wait

According to reports, the chaos was triggered by extended delays in the distribution of food grains. Three months’ worth of ration is being distributed at once. This prompted large crowds at ration centres across the district. The three month decision was made under a recent state government decision. However, persistent technical failures and poor management have severely hindered the distribution process.

On the day of the incident, although the shop’s salesman was inside, the gates remained locked for hours. As the crowd waiting outside the gate comprised mainly women, older people, and children. After waiting for hours the crowd grew restless, they eventually broke open the iron gate. In the rush that followed, several people were pushed and fell, sustaining minor injuries.

Recurring Issues with Technology and Management

The residents of Gariaband reported that such incidents are becoming increasingly common in their region. Daily queues begin early in the morning. However, due to system failures, most people return empty-handed.

“The biggest issues are failure in OTP verification, fingerprint mismatches, and repeated server outages,” said a local resident. “Only 20 to 25 people are getting their ration in a day.”

According to a NDTV report, a Salesman Ramesh Nirmalkar blamed the new biometric system for the delays. “It takes three attempts for OTP and five to six fingerprint scans for each person. Sometimes it takes more than 30 minutes to process one beneficiary,” he explained.

Common issues include fingerprint mismatches, delayed OTPs, and server outages all contributing to bottlenecks and public frustration.

Police Intervention and Official Response

The Police arrived on the scene immediately after the incident began. They managed to control the situation and the crowd. Fortunately, no major serious injuries were reported. Similar technical and logistical problems, however, continue to plague other ration centres in the district.

In response to the growing troubles, the local administration has issued a standard statement. They have promised to investigate the matter and implement corrective steps. They also assured to “look into the matter and take corrective action.” However, with repeated breakdowns and growing public unrest, temporary fixes may no longer be enough to address the scale of the problem.

About the PDS in Chhattisgarh

The Chhattisgarh Public Distribution System (PDS) provides ration cards to eligible residents. The card gives access to subsidized food grains to eligible residents under various ration cards. This includes, Priority Household (PHH), Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), Below Poverty Line (BPL), and Above Poverty Line (APL).

The state government, with the help of these schemes, provides food grains to the card holders. The beneficiaries receive rice, wheat, and pulses at subsidized rates. The eligible person can get the ration card services online via state portals and the NFSA website.

As the ration crisis deepens in Gariaband, calls for systemic reform in PDS delivery are growing louder.