The distribution of new Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards would begin in Karnataka 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 applications within a month and start issuing cards,” Rao told reporters on Monday.
On the huge number of applications, Rao said many Above Poverty Line (APL) families have also applied for the BPL cards. “However, we will verify the data before issuing the cards. The background inspection of the applicants will be intensified by using the services of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and officials of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and Revenue Departments,” he said.
There are about 1.35 crore families in the state, of which APL cardholders constitute over 30 lakh. The process of weeding out bogus BPL cards would be intensified after completing the processing of new applications, he added.
The minister ruled out the possibility of issuing rice at subsidised price for APL families in near future.