BJP levelling politically motivated allegations, only 340 ineligible BPL card holders in Dakshina Kannada: MLC Ivan D’Souza

Mangaluru: Congress MLC Ivan D’Souza on Saturday said only 340 ineligible BPL card holders have been identified in Dakshina Kannada and these cards will either be cancelled or upgraded as APL ration cards.

He accused BJP MLAs of levelling politically motivated allegations against the Congress-led state government on cancelling thousands of BPL rations cards in the state. “None of the BPL cards of eligible card holders have been cancelled. Only the BPL cards of individuals who are income taxpayers or government employees are cancelled,” he told mediapersons in Mangaluru.

The MLC said that Dakshina Kannada district has 4.59 lakh ration cards and of which 2,77,744 are BPL cards, 22,885 are Antyodaya cards and 1,74,334 are APL cards. Among the BPL cards, 3,079 cards have not availed the ration in the last six months.

As per kutumba software, there are 2,377 ineligible cards. Out of a total of 5,456 ineligible cards identified, 5,116 cards have been restored after verifying the documents and there are only 340 ineligible BPL cards in the district now, he explained.

The MLC said that camps to rectify any problems in availing guarantee schemes will be held at the gram panchayat and ward level in the district at the earliest.

He further added that 14 instalments under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme have been credited to the account of the women. A few women could not avail the benefits due to the issues pertaining to GST number and IT returns. “I will raise the issue during the winter session which will commence from December 9,” he said.

“I have urged the Deputy Commissioner to issue a temporary permit for the KSRTC to operate at least six buses between Mangaluru- Karkala via Moodbidri. Till date no KSRTC buses operate on the stretch. As a result, benefits of Shakti guarantee scheme could not be availed by the passengers in the area. I will also raise the issue on the same during the session. Had the BJP MLAs had concern for the poor, they would have demanded KSRTC buses to Karkala and Moodbidri from Mangaluru," he added.

“I will also raise the issue of coastal tourism during the session. Already, rules have been framed to upgrade Coastal Development Authority to Coastal Development Board. I will demand Rs 500 crore annually for the development of beaches, and other tourism related activities through the Coastal Development Board,” he said.