Though government continues to maintain that forms are available all over Maharashtra, ration shop owners in these areas say forms have not reached them as yet.

Citizens complained that a family earning more than Rs 8,333 per month in Mumbai cannot be termed `well-off'. Meanwhile, several leaders in the ruling alliance feel that the cut-off limit for the orange ration cards should be increased from Rs one lakh to Rs 2 lakh.

However, no such proposal seems to be on the cards. According to deputy secretary of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, T L Goray, ``The government's commitment towards the underprivileged remains unchanged. A family earning more than Rs one lakh per annum can afford to purchasefoodgrains from outside.''

The TPDS was designed keeping those below poverty line (BPL) in mind. But only 10 per cent of the population have been found fit for yellow cards in Mumbai. ``It's a good sign,'' says Goray, ``It means that the city has a small section of the very poor.'' Ironically, people who would have qualified for these cards (earning less than Rs 1,250 per month) include a large number of street-dwellers who cannot apply for ration cards -- people with no fixed addresses who are never touched by the government's `pro-poor' policies.

Rising protests over inconvenient demands have however forced the government to tone down some of the requirements in the application forms. Income slabs have been introduced and one need mention only whether he earns below or above Rs one lakh per annum. Any family member can now collect forms and submit the same as against the earlier demand for the head of the family to be present. Forms can also be filled in any Indian language.