In a significant step under the Prime Minister’s Special Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) scheme, 243 Koraga families from Dakshina Kannada (DK) and Udupi districts have been issued new Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards. This initiative, aimed at providing essential facilities to marginalized tribal communities, had its application deadline on January 31, 2025.
Officials from the department confirmed that all Koraga families in these two districts now hold BPL ration cards. The process of applying for and distributing these cards began on December 24, 2024, and the final date for applications was set for January 31, 2025. This initiative also extends to Jenu Kuruba families, recognized as PVTGs by the central government.
In Dakshina Kannada, 159 families with a total of 320 members, and 84 families in Udupi, have successfully received their BPL ration cards by the deadline. The initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure that PVTG families have access to government benefits, which require Aadhaar cards, ration cards, and other key documents. To streamline this process, the ITDP department gathered essential data, including names, caste and income certificates, and Aadhaar details, and submitted it to the food department well ahead of the application deadline.
Similar initiatives are underway in Mysuru, Kodagu, and Chamarajanagar districts, where Jenu Kuruba families are also set to receive their ration cards. In total, 1,670 PVTG families across the state will benefit from this scheme, including 365 families in Mysuru, 342 in Kodagu, and 516 in Chamarajanagar.
As per the 2011 Census, Dakshina Kannada is home to 1,235 Koraga families with 4,800 members, and Udupi has 2,450 Koraga families comprising 9,500 members. The state has also introduced additional government schemes to benefit Koraga families, such as financial aid of Rs 4.5 lakh for constructing new homes for those without adequate housing, alongside various welfare and nutrition programs.
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