Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru/Udupi (MS)

Mangaluru/Udupi, Nov 3: The operation of search for ineligible Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards by the food and civil supplied department is continuing in the twin districts. Till the end of October month, 2,945 ineligible BPL ration cards are found out by the department and cancelled. Many have got their ration cards voluntarily from BPL to Above Poverty Line (APL).

The government had given September 30 as the deadline for rich people, who were using the benefits of BPL rations cards, though they were not eligible for the same, to get the same converted to APL. Though some got them converted to APL in the month of August and September, many were continuing to held the BPL ration cards. So the officials of Food and Civil Supplies department of the twin districts had sought the help of RTO to find out the fraudsters. They got the details of people owning four-wheelers from the RTO and using the Aadhar link, they are zeroing in on the rich people of the society, who are still holding onto BPL ration cards.

In the district of Dakshina Kannada, 1,899 people holding BPL ration cards, though they are ineligible are caught by the Food and Civil Supplies department officials between the period of August to October. This includes, 87 from unofficial ration card area of Mangaluru, 261 from Mangaluru taluk, 547 from Bantwal, 274 from Puttur, 611 from Beltangady and 119 from Sullia.

Out of the 1,899 BPL ration cards that were cancelled by the department of food and civil supplies in the district of Dakshina Kannada, 1,311 families owned four-wheelers. This includes, 35 from unofficial ration card are of Mangaluru, 103 from Mangaluru taluk, 360 from Bantwal, 188 from Puttur, 520 from Beltangady and 105 families from Sullia.

In the district of Udupi, out of the 1,046 ineligible BPL rations cards found out by the department, 693 people have returned the same got it upgraded to APL. The BPL ration cards of 350 families is upgraded to APL. The BPL cards of three families is confiscated, as they were ineligible and a complaint in this regard was raised by public. This information was shared to the media by deputy director of Udupi food and civil supplies department Kusumadhar.

The officials of food and civil supplies department have warned the public, who are possessing BPL rations cards, though their income is high, to get them converted to APL cards immediately. During the search operation, if the officials of the department find the violators, they will have to pay Rs 35 per kg of rice from the deadline date that was given by the government to get the rations cards changed to APL.

Joint director of food and civil supplies of Dakshina Kannada district Dr Manjunathan said, "The operation of finding out ineligible ration card holders is continuing. So far 1,899 people are caught. The slapping of fine, as per the rule, is also being done. All those BPL ration card holders, who are not eligible, should get the same converted to APL soon."