Process of applying for ration cards to be simplified

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies UT Khader (in pic) on Friday said the government will consider simplifying the process of getting below poverty line (BPL) and above poverty line (APL) ration cards.

Participating in a satellite-based interaction with ration store owners here on Friday, the minister said the development of the software by the department for this purpose is in its final stage.

The technology would help applicants apply for a ration card from anywhere. Similarly, the process to apply for BPL cards would be further simplified keeping in mind rural and illiterate citizens,” he said.

Besides, Khader said the department would make the biometric coupon-based system compulsory for card holders to collect rations under the public distribution system (PDS) in the next three months.

‘Coupon-based distribution’

“Beneficiaries will have to furnish their ration card and Aadhaar numbers at the kiosks. Then the cardholders will have to dial 1614 from their registered mobile number that will generate a coupon number,” he said and added that in the first phase, coupon-based kerosene distribution would be introduced in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike limits and 10 selected fair price shops in the state, which will then be extended across the state.

He urged the department to ensure 100% Aadhaar collection of all beneficiaries. He said 98% of the card holders have included Aadhaar numbers while 6.5 lakh bogus cards were cancelled.

Commission

The minister said the state government has increased the margin of Rs 14 per quintal to all 20,000 fair price shop dealers under the public distribution system (PDS) for disbursing food grains to card holders.
He also promised to provide an extra cylinder to eligible beneficiaries instead of kerosene as well as a solar lamp in the future.
DH News Service