PDS List Deletions Lead to Protests in Darjeeling Hills

Amitava Banerjee, MP, July 20, 2026, Darjeeling: Hundreds of people from across Darjeeling, including remote block areas, gathered outside the Food and Supplies department office at Chowk Bazar on Monday demanding immediate restoration of names deleted from the Public Distribution System (PDS) list and a halt to what they termed "random" deletions.

Hill political parties also protested the large-scale deletions carried out without prior notice and submitted memorandums to the authorities.

"In the past two days there have been a huge number of deletions of around two lakh names in Darjeeling Hills and Kalimpong district. More than 30 to 40 per cent of those deleted belong to the economically weaker sections," alleged Manoj Gurung, president of the MR Dealers' Association of North Bengal.

The crowd at the Food and Supplies office continued to swell through the day, prompting the deployment of additional police personnel to prevent any untoward incident.

Joydeep Das, Sub-Divisional Controller, Food and Supplies Department, Darjeeling, said the deletions were being carried out in accordance with a Central Government circular.

"Families with an annual income of Rs 6 lakh and above, as reflected in Income Tax Returns, have been deleted. Owners of four-wheelers have also been removed," Das  said after receiving memorandums from the protesters.

The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), an ally of the BJP, submitted a memorandum to the District Magistrate demanding an immediate review of the exercise.

"The deletions have been random. Many tea garden workers earning Rs 232 a day and who do not file income tax returns have also been deleted. There should be a clearly defined criterion for deletion. The deletions have taken place without any prior notification or consultation. Even Form 10 was not filled up by beneficiaries to voluntarily surrender benefits while retaining the ration card as an identity document. People are panicking and are agitated. The situation can go out of hand," said GNLF spokesperson Y. Lama.

District Magistrate Harishanker Panicker said the administration had already taken up the matter.

"We have informed the Government regarding this issue. The concerned department and authorities are looking into it," he said.

Indian Gorkha Janshakti Front (IGJF) chief convenor Ajoy Edwards also wrote to Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, urging him to intervene.

"Since ration is essential for economically vulnerable families, no eligible person should be deprived without proper verification, notice and an opportunity to clarify their case," Edwards wrote, requesting the MP to raise the matter with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

"I am a farmer and don't pay income tax. My son met with an accident and doesn't work. My grandson is in the Army. All five ration cards of my family have been cancelled. We brought the BJP to power and this is what we get," alleged Bimal Niraula of Lower Lamagaon.

During the 2016 digitisation of ration cards in the Darjeeling hills, the State Government had placed all hill residents under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) category, a Central Government scheme meant for the Below Poverty Line category, as Darjeeling falls under 'Designated Hill Area (DHA)' as a non-producing zone.

Courtesy & source- Millennium Post