File a Complaint Against Ration Shop (Fair Price Shop) in Uttar Pradesh

Do not get into a physical fight with the Kotedar. Immediately dial 1076 (CM Helpline) or 1800-1800-150 (Food Dept) to report him. For a permanent solution, lodge an online complaint on the fcs.up.gov.in portal or the Jansunwai app. If the dealer claims "Network Error," demand to see the Transaction Log on the PoS machine.

In Uttar Pradesh, dealers (Kotedars) often use the excuse of "Server Down" or "Fingerprint Mismatch" to deny ration to valid cardholders. They then siphon off this uncollected grain to the open market (Black Marketing). Since the introduction of e-PoS (Electronic Point of Sale) machines, every transaction is digital, but dealers still manipulate the system by weighing less (Ghat-toli) or forcing you to buy salt/tea along with the ration.

When Can You File? (The Grounds)

You can file a complaint under the UP Essential Commodities Distribution Order, 2016 for:

• Ghat-toli (Under-weighing): Giving 4kg instead of 5kg per unit.
• Overcharging: Demanding money for free schemes (PMGKAY) or charging higher than prescribed rates.
• Forced Bundling: Forcing you to buy other items (Soap/Tea) to get ration.
• Shop Closure: Shop not opening on designated distribution dates (usually 5th to 20th of the month).

What You Need

Checklist

• Your 12-digit Ration Card Number.
• The Kotedar's Name or Shop ID (Written on the shop board).
• The Hidden Requirement: The "Receipt" vs. "Scale" Video. Dealers often manipulate the weighing scale. Record a video showing the weight on the electronic scale vs. the weight printed on the slip. This variation is undeniable proof of theft.

Step-by-Step Guide

• Step 1: The "Jansunwai" Strike (Most Effective)
  UP has a powerful integrated grievance portal.
  Download the Jansunwai (IGRS) App or go to jansunwai.up.nic.in.
  Register with your mobile number.
  Select "Department: Food and Civil Supplies."
  Upload your complaint and video evidence.
  Why this works: Complaints here are monitored directly by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) and must be resolved within 15 days.
• Step 2: The Departmental Complaint
  Go to fcs.up.gov.in (Official Supply Dept Portal).
  Click on "Online Grievance" (ऑनलाइन शिकायत).
  Fill in the Kotedar's details and your Ration Card number.
  You will get a Complaint ID to track the status.
• Step 3: The Toll-Free Escalation
  If you are at the shop and the dealer is misbehaving:
  Dial 1076 (CM Helpline) immediately on speakerphone.
  Dial 1800-1800-150 or 1967.
  State clearly: "I am standing at Shop ID [Number] and the dealer is refusing ration."
• Step 4: The Supply Inspector (ARO) Visit
  Visit the office of the Area Rationing Officer (ARO) or District Supply Officer (DSO) at the Tehsil/Collectorate.
  Submit a written complaint signed by 3-4 other victims from your neighborhood. Collective complaints often lead to immediate license suspension.

How It Works & Hidden Details

The "Unit" Fraud:
Many cards have "Ghost Units" (names of family members who don't live there). Dealers often cut the ration for these units saying "The person must be present."
Rule: Under "One Nation One Ration Card," any family member can authenticate via Aadhaar and lift the entire family's quota. The dealer cannot deny ration for absent members if one member is present with biometric auth.

The "Printout" Trick:
Dealers sometimes give you a printout that says "Transaction Successful" but claim "Server Failed" and don't give grain.
Check: Look at the bottom of the slip. If it shows "Weight: 20kg" and "Amount: ₹0/₹40", the transaction is complete. Taking the grain is your right. If he refuses, it is theft.

Things to Watch Out For

• Risk 1: Pradhan's Interference.
  In villages, the Kotedar is often related to the Pradhan. They may pressure you to withdraw the complaint. Stick to the Jansunwai portal as it bypasses local pressure.
• Risk 2: Biometric Lock.
  If your Aadhaar biometrics are locked, the machine won't work. Ensure your Aadhaar is unlocked via the mAadhaar app before going to the shop.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: Can I take ration from another shop?
  A: Yes. Under Portability, you can go to any shop in UP or India. If your dealer is corrupt, stop going to him. His commission depends on the number of transactions; if everyone leaves, his shop dies automatically.
• Q: How do I know how much ration I am entitled to?
  A: Download the "Mera Ration" app. Enter your Ration Card number. It will show your exact entitlement (Wheat/Rice/Sugar) for the current month.

This guide is valid for all the districts of Uttar Pradesh viz. Agra, Aligarh, Ambedkar Nagar, Amethi, Amroha, Auraiya, Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Baghpat, Bahraich, Ballia, Balrampur, Banda, Barabanki, Bareilly, Basti, Bhadohi, Bijnor, Budaun, Bulandshahr, Chandauli, Chitrakoot, Deoria, Etah, Etawah, Farrukhabad, Fatehpur, Firozabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ghaziabad, Ghazipur, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Hamirpur, Hardoi, Hathras, Hapur, Jalaun, Jaunpur, Jhansi, Kannauj, Kanpur Dehat, Kanpur Nagar, Kasganj, Kaushambi, Kushinagar, Lakhimpur Kheri, Lalitpur, Lucknow, Maharajganj, Mahoba, Mainpuri, Mathura, Mau, Meerut, Mirzapur, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Pilibhit, Pratapgarh, Prayagraj, Raebareli, Rampur, Saharanpur, Sambhal, Sant Kabir Nagar, Shahjahanpur, Shamli, Shravasti, Siddharthnagar, Sitapur, Sonbhadra, Sultanpur, Unnao and Varanasi.

Update: Critical Additions for 2026

• The "E-KYC" Purge (Mandatory Aadhaar Seeding):
  As of January 2026, the biggest reason for "Unit Cut" (names missing from the list) is the failure to complete E-KYC. The government deadline was strictly enforced until December 31, 2025.
  Solution: If a family member's name is missing, take them to the ration shop immediately. The dealer must perform E-KYC on the e-PoS machine (free of cost) to reactivate the unit. Without this, no amount of complaints will restore the grain quota.
• Integrated Weighing Scale (No More "Manual" Weighing):
  Under the latest Smart PDS norms, the e-PoS machine must be connected via Bluetooth/Cable to the electronic weighing scale. The receipt will only generate if the weight on the scale matches the entitlement (e.g., 5kg).
  The Scam: If the dealer weighs the grain on a separate scale and then just hands you a printed slip, he is violating the "Waybridge Integration" rule. Demand that he weighs it on the machine connected to the e-PoS.
• Grain ATMs (Annapurti) Rollout:
  Uttar Pradesh has started deploying "Annapurti" (Grain ATMs) in select districts to eliminate human interference completely. If you are in a city like Lucknow or Gorakhpur, check if a nearby "Model Shop" has this machine. You can use One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) to draw your ration from these ATMs even if your card is registered in a village.

If the dealer claims "Network Error," demand to see the Transaction Log...

Pro Tip: Use the Mera Ration 2.0 App. It allows you to see the "Real-Time Stock" of the dealer. If the app shows he has 50 quintals of wheat but he claims "Stock Finished," show him the app screen. It is undeniable proof of hoarding.