The second round online application facility for ration cards has been taken up in the district and only one application has been uploaded since the introduction of the facility.

Food and Civil Supplies District Deputy Director Arun Kumar Sanghavi told Deccan Herald that the second round online application programme for ration cards was launched last week in the district. The department has received only one application for APL card, he added.

Last time, the department had received as many as 26,920 applications, of which 10,079 were rejected owing to various reasons. Around 37 applications were accounted for partial photograph error. Nearly 14,608 applications were issued. As many as 2,176 are left out in the department as the applicants did not turn up to collect the cards, he added.

The applicants can send SMS to the department number (9212357123) and in turn they will receive a reply indicating the security code along with the entry number and token number, following which, the applicants should bring their cellphones with them along with an introducer who has permanent ration card and RR number (electricty bill).

The thumb impression of the applicant will be taken and the photograph and the thumb impression of the applicant should match.

He should also give his RR number and address details while uploading the application. After all these formalities, a SMS will be sent to the applicant to collect his ration card, the DD added.

The provision assured by the state government in the current fiscal budget of offering kilo rice for Rs 2 will be implemented from April 1 across the district.  The ration shops are given instructions and rice will be distributed to BPL card holders at the cost of Rs 2 per kilogram, Sanghavi said.

The computerised weighing machine is introduced in Bangalore and Tumkur. The weighing machine which incorporates the point of sale system facility will be introduced in all ration shops in the district by the end of May, he added.