The distribution of new Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards would begin in a little over a month if Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao walks the talk.
In all, over 35 lakh applications for new BPL cards are pending. Of this, 3.95 lakh are from Bangalore alone.
“We will complete the processing of the applications within a month and start issuing cards,” Rao told reporters on Monday.
Explaining the huge number of applications, Rao said many Above Poverty Line (APL) families have also applied for BPL cards. “However, we will verify the data before issuing the cards. The background inspection of the applicants would be intensified by using the services of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and Revenue Departments officials,” he said.
In all, there are about 1.35 crore families in the state of which APL cardholders constitute over 30 lakh, the minister said.
There is huge number of bogus BPL cards in the state and the process of weeding out would be intensified after completing the processing of new BPL cards applications, he said.
The minister ruled out the possibility of issuing rice at subsidised price for APL families in the near future.
On reforms in the department, Rao said efforts were on to introduce portability of cards in Bangalore city, which would enable the cardholders to buy their quota of supplies from any fair price shop in the city.
“We are also mulling providing essential commodities like edible oil and salt through fair price shops without subsidy, but at a lesser price than the open market,” the minister said.
The government is considering various measures to simplify the process of applying for new ration cards.
If all goes well one could soon submit their applications through BangaloreOne, KarnatakaOne and Jansnehi centres.