Will not let women take photos for ration cards: Kerala minister gets threats from religious organisations

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The News Minute | January 24, 2015 | 7.40 pm IST Kerala Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob has received some threat letters from religious organizations in the last three days, warning the minister that his department cannot insist on photographs of women while issuing new ration cards. The Central government allows women to be head of families, and ration cards to be issued in their names. (from 2013) The threat letters say that privacy of women will be lost if their photographs are taken and the minister has been warned of consequences if the practice is continued. “We have received some threat letters from some religious organizations. They have warned the Minister that he will face dire consequences if the new rule of issuing ration card to women is not withdrawn,” the minister’s office told The News Minute, but was unwilling to name the religious organisations involved. The letters also questioned that why the Government needs to issue ration cards in the name of men only, instead of women. The letters alleged that the government is compelling women to take photographs. “According to new central government civil supplies rule the ration card can be issued in the name of the eldest woman member of each family. It has been implemented in all parts of India,” Minister’s office said. Minister’s additional private secretary A.G. Anilal told TNM that the Minister had replied to some of the letters explaining reasons behind new rule. “The state government cannot bring any alteration to the law. If some people refuse to take photos, cards will not be issued to them” The eldest woman member of each family has to take their photographs from camps that are being held across all districts of Kerala till March 4. Tweet

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