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A ration stamp or ration card is a stamp or card issued by a government to allow the holder to obtain food or other commodities that are in short supply during wartime or in other emergency situations when rationing is in force. Ration stamps were widely used during World War II by both sides after hostilities caused interruption to the normal supply of goods. They were also used after the end of the war while the economies of the belligerents gradually returned to normal. Ration stamps were also used to help maintain the amount of food one could hold at a time. This was so that one person would not have more food than the other.
Rationing has been perpetual in India since World War II. The type of ration card is an identifier to the benefit eligibility of the holder. This card is an important part of the Public distribution system (PDS) in India. On the basis of their economic condition, people can buy goods like food grains, sugar and kerosene with the help of their ration cards.
There are presently three types of ration cards:
- Antyodaya ration cards, issued to the poorest of the poor.
- Below poverty line (BPL) cards.
- Above poverty line (APL) cards.
The United States
Rationing was used in the United States during World War II.
Government funds provided to poverty stricken individuals by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are often referred to colloquially as "food stamps". The parallels between these "food stamps" and ration stamps as used in war time rationing is limited, however, since food can be purchased in the United States on the regular market without the use of stamps.
The United Kingdom
Rationing was widespread in the United Kingdom during World War II and continued long after the end of the war. It has been credited with greatly increasing public health. Fuel rationing did not end until 1950.
Ration cards were used in People's Republic of Poland in two periods: April 1952—January 1953 and August 1976—July 1989.
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- "1950: UK drivers cheer end of fuel rations". BBC. 26 May 1950. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
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