Permanent ration cards will be issued in three months: Minister

Of the 1.59 crore families which have applied for ration cards in the State, 75 per cent have been photographed so far. The photography process will continue till July 15, the minister told mediapersons here on Monday.

Halappa said that the number of temporary ration cards issued in the State exceeds the total number of families.

Quoting a report of the survey conducted by the Department of Food and Civil Supplies in 2005, he said that the State has 1.24 crore families, against which 1.59 crore temporary ration cards have been issued.

Duplications, and instances of possessing multiple cards will be traced during the verification process, he said.

The minister warned of stern action against those who have filed false affidavits to get multiple cards. Criminal proceedings will be initiated against erring persons.

(Un)Fair price shops

With respect to ‘unfair’ practices in fair price shops, he said that till now, the Government would confiscate the amount deposited by the fair price shops, if charges were proved.

“The amount deposited by fair price shops will be raised by 10 times,” he stated.

The minister also refrained from replying to queries on distribution of rice at Rs 2 per kg, to BPL families in the State. “I agree that assurance of providing rice at Rs 2 per kg figured in our manifesto during the Assembly elections. We still have another four years to fulfil the promise.”

Rice at Rs 2

 On the Central Government’s move to provide rice at Rs 1 per kilo to families below the poverty line (BPL), the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies said, “Of the 1.06 crore BPL families in the State, only 32 lakh will benefit. The Central Government has adopted a different criterion to measure the standard of living.”

He also said that a sum of Rs 10 crore has been provided for introducing the system of online monitoring, at the point of sales at fair price shops.