<p>The Food and Civil Supplies department is contemplating extending the BPL card facility to cancer patients and those undergoing dialysis even if they don’t fall under the poor category.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader on Wednesday told reporters that the department would place such a proposal before the government shortly.<br />He said cancer patients and those requiring dialysis face a heavy financial burden, and if they wish to obtain a BPL card, they could do so and get covered under the Vajpayee Arogyashree Scheme. <br /><br />Khader also said the department would launch online facilities for obtaining APL cards in a day or two. <br /><br />Here, any new applicant who wants to obtain an APL card can log into the department website and fill in the requisite details, including the Aadhaar number, and take out a printout. <br /><br />List of fair price shops<br />The applicant will receive a list of fair price shops in the vicinity of his residence, where he can go and purchase rations by showing the ration card printout. APL card holders can buy 5 kg of rice at Rs 15 a kg and 5 kg of wheat at Rs 10 a kg. The online facility will however be strictly restricted to APL card holders. He said that there are 1.36 crore card holders in the state. <br /><br />The department is also yet to dispose of 10 lakh pending applications, and will complete them in the next three months, he added. <br /><br />Will simplify process<br />The department is also planning to simplify the application process. It wants to withdraw 10 to 12 conditions, out of 14, including the submission of RR number. <br /><br />Khader said the coupon system which has been introduced for kerosene, would also be extended to foodgrains in the next two to three months.<br /></p>
<p>The Food and Civil Supplies department is contemplating extending the BPL card facility to cancer patients and those undergoing dialysis even if they don’t fall under the poor category.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader on Wednesday told reporters that the department would place such a proposal before the government shortly.<br />He said cancer patients and those requiring dialysis face a heavy financial burden, and if they wish to obtain a BPL card, they could do so and get covered under the Vajpayee Arogyashree Scheme. <br /><br />Khader also said the department would launch online facilities for obtaining APL cards in a day or two. <br /><br />Here, any new applicant who wants to obtain an APL card can log into the department website and fill in the requisite details, including the Aadhaar number, and take out a printout. <br /><br />List of fair price shops<br />The applicant will receive a list of fair price shops in the vicinity of his residence, where he can go and purchase rations by showing the ration card printout. APL card holders can buy 5 kg of rice at Rs 15 a kg and 5 kg of wheat at Rs 10 a kg. The online facility will however be strictly restricted to APL card holders. He said that there are 1.36 crore card holders in the state. <br /><br />The department is also yet to dispose of 10 lakh pending applications, and will complete them in the next three months, he added. <br /><br />Will simplify process<br />The department is also planning to simplify the application process. It wants to withdraw 10 to 12 conditions, out of 14, including the submission of RR number. <br /><br />Khader said the coupon system which has been introduced for kerosene, would also be extended to foodgrains in the next two to three months.<br /></p>
