BBMP taxmen to help manage ration card rush

As many as 1.5 lakh applications for new ration cards are pending in BBMP limits due to staff crunch. Personnel from the BBMP’s tax department will be roped in to handle the rush, Bengaluru Development Minister K J George said on Monday.

 

“There are only 17 officials to verify the applications. With the help of personnel from the BBMP’s tax wing, verification of new ration card applications will be completed in another 10 days,” said George, who held a meeting to discuss delays in the issuance of ration cards.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader said his department had received 16 lakh applications for ration cards in Karnataka. “Village accountants and revenue inspectors are verifying them. The process is expected to be finished by August 15 and the cards will be despatched by post,” he said.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Housing Minister M Krishnappa, Gandhinagar MLA Dinesh Gundu Rao and Rajarajeshwari Nagar MLA Munirathna were present at the meeting.

Centre ‘copies’ state scheme
The Centre’s proposed Shaadi Shagun scheme — under which Muslim girls who complete college education will get Rs 51,000 towards marriage — is a “copy” of the state government’s Shaadi Bhagya, Khader claimed.

“Ironically, the BJP opposed our scheme when it was announced. Now, the Centre is taking our scheme as a model,” he said. Officially known as Bidaai, the government’s scheme doles out Rs 50,000 to poor Muslim, Jain, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh and Parsi women and widows towards their marriage expenditure. “The schemes of our government serve as models to the entire country. The Shaadi Shagun scheme is a proof of that,” Women and Child Development Minister Umashree said.