But the really serious problems lie elsewhere. The main one is the amount of information called for in the application forms. This is worthy of an income tax department not a rationing office. It affects families who hope to get saffron cards (incomes above Rs 15,000 per annum but below one lakh) and more so white cards (incomes above one lakh). They are required to provide proof of income for all family members, to specify ownership of land, telephones, vehicles, immoveable property and whether there are doctors, lawyers and chartered accountants in the household.

It makes sense to reduce work for the rationing office and cut down the harassment of people. To start with this can be done by eliminating the need for ration cardsfor all those who can afford to do without subsidised kerosene and sugar which is all that white card holders will get. The only reason most of them are applying is because ration cards are essential to establish one's identity. Let the government declare that ration cards will not be the only means of proving residential status and identity and a whole lot of people will happily strike themselves off the list of applicants. The second thing is to simplify proof of income requirements for saffron card wallahs. The third is to concentrate on ensuring that every single poor family in Maharashtra actually gets its yellow card at last.