The State government has received close to 40 lakh ration card applications for renewal from families living Below Poverty Line (BPL) and will start distributing cards this month, said Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Dinesh Gundu Rao.

Speaking to reporters at the launch of Aahara Adalat at a fair price shop started by the Kempegowda Nagar Milk Producers’ Association at Banashankari 2nd stage on Saturday, Rao said the government is linking ration card applications with Aadhaar cards and Election Photo Identity Cards to check misuse of the scheme and ensure that groceries from the fair price shops reach the beneficiaries.

Rao said these measures have been taken for the success of the Anna Bhagya Yojane (ABY), the flagship scheme of the State government, offering 30 kg rice to each BPL family at Re 1 per kg.

The minister explained that Aahara Adalat has been organised to ensure that BPL families get the benefits of ABY.

Aahara Adalat

The Aahara Adalat was flooded with complaints regarding short supply of subsidised grocery items and some shops remaining closed most of the time. People complained that they were charged Rs 2.5 per kg of rice. The fair price shopkeepers who attended the meeting were asked to improve their services.

Following serious complaints, the minister ordered inquiry against the Banashankari Mahila Consumer Cooperative Society and Gajanana Consumer Cooperative Society.