Own TV, fridge or bike in Karnataka? Surrender your BPL card or face action

The Karnataka government is all set to redefine its BPL criteria even as Food & Civil Supplies Minister Umesh Katti courted controversy with his statement that those who own a TV, fridge or a bike will not get subsidised ration.

On Saturday, Katti told reporters in Belagavi that households having a TV, fridge or bike will be removed from the BPL list,

On Monday, Katti issued a statement saying he had not ordered any changes to the existing methodology in issuing BPL cards. “It has come to the notice of the government that there are a large number of households that illegally possess BPL cards in violation of existing criteria,” Katti said. “Such households should voluntarily return the BPL cards to the government before March 31, 2021. I have directed officials to take action against those who do not surrender (the cards) within the stipulated time.”

After the Food Security Act, 2013 came to force, ration cards were categorised as ‘priority’ and non-priority households, doing away with the earlier BPL and APL. There are about 1.15 crore priority ration cards, covering a population of nearly 4 crore in the state. In 2019-20, the government doled out Rs 3,755 crore as food subsidy.

By weeding out ineligible and bogus ration cards, the fund-starved government hopes to cut expenditure.

As per the existing criteria, those employed in the government or any of its undertakings, taxpayers, those holding 3 hectares of dry or irrigated land in rural areas and owners of properties spread over 1,000 sqft or more in urban areas, those who own a vehicle for commercial use are considered ineligible to possess priority household ration cards.

But Katti’s reference to households that have a TV, bike and fridge is new as they do not figure in the existing criteria.

“It is imminent for the criteria to be revised. We want to tighten them and we are in the process of doing that,” Additional Chief Secretary (Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs) BH Anil Kumar told DH. “Whether those who own a TV or fridge can be considered as BPL is what we have to determine.”

Former Congress minister Ramalinga Reddy attacked the government. “You can get a TV for just Rs 2,000 these days. If the BPL cards are cancelled, where should the poor go? This is a clear example of the BJP’s anti-people policies. I urge the CM to maintain the status quo,” he said.