BPL cards not linked to Aadhaar to be scrapped by month-end

 The government will cancel BPL cards which are not linked to Aadhaar numbers in urban areas before the end of September. 

Addressing reporters in Bengaluru on Saturday, Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader said BPL card holders were asked to furnish Aadhaar numbers of all beneficiaries. Nearly 72% of the beneficiaries have submitted details. The deadline to submit the numbers is September-end. Cards which are not linked to Aadhaar would be considered bogus, he added. 

The minister said applications for issuing new ration cards would be accepted online both in urban and rural areas. The new system would be introduced by the end of this month. The cards would be distributed under the Sakala scheme.

Khader said distribution of rations in urban areas through the coupon system has begun this month. There is good response from beneficiaries. In October, coupons for three months would be issued at one go, he added.