The government is proposing to have biometric ration cards for below poverty line families in a bid to eliminate bogus cards.
In future, the thumb impression of the head of the family will be made mandatory in the computerised cards, according to sources in Food and Civil Supplies Department. While buying the ration, the thumb impression in the card would be verified by the computer, the sources added.
BPL cards will be issued at the second stage to those, whose names had been deleted in the revised list of the undivided families. The process will be completed in two weeks. Ration cards will also have photos of all the family members. According to sources, there is a difference of opinion between the Central and the State governments over the identification of the BPL people. There were flaws in the BPL list submitted by the State government to the Central government. Due to the differences over the number of beneficiaries,  the distribution of the ration cards was delayed. However, now a modified BPL list has been submitted to the Central government, the sources added.
A committee has been constituted to identify BPL families.