Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday directed the officials of food and civil supplies department to continue old system of supplying food grains to below poverty line (BPL) ration card holders. It may be recalled that Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader had announced the plan to introduce cash for ration (cash coupons) recently.
Speaking at the launch of a programme aimed at supplying pulses to the BPL card holders in the city on Tuesday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he had received complaints of misuse of the scheme where cash was given to card holders instead of grains. “This defeats the purpose. So, I have directed to give grains to the beneficiary and not cash,” the chief minister said.
He said that the State government has been working towards making Karnataka a ‘malnourishment free state’. He also urged the officials to exercise caution while removing people from APL or BPL card-holders lists, as it might cause discomfort for the needy. “From April 1, the quantum of rice being distributed to BPL card holders would be increased. I want the food and civil supplies department officials to give importance to supply food grains to the ration card-holders on time. The second priority should be to cancel fake ration cards,” he said.
