Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada District Guarantee Schemes Implementation Committee has directed officials to conduct a thorough review of the process of converting Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards into Above Poverty Line (APL) cards. Committee chairman Bharath Mundodi said the State Government has already issued an order to undertake a comprehensive scrutiny, and officers must ensure the exercise is carried out meticulously across the district.

Review of guarantee scheme progress

Presiding over a progress review meeting on Wednesday, Mundodi emphasised that errors in the classification of BPL and APL families could have significant repercussions on the disbursal of welfare benefits under various guarantee schemes. He instructed the officers from the food, civil supplies, and consumer affairs department to intensify verification and ensure no eligible household is wrongly shifted between categories.

Officials were reminded that the district administration has been giving priority to accurate documentation as several schemes depend on ration card status. Mundodi observed that cases had been reported in which families eligible for BPL benefits were either left out or moved to APL categories without adequate scrutiny. He said such lapses must be prevented as they affect access to essential welfare schemes.

Action sought against unauthorised contract carriages

Taking note of a concern raised by the president of the Mangaluru taluk guarantee scheme implementation committee, Mundodi said that some contract carriage buses were operating in certain regions of Dakshina Kannada without proper permissions. He instructed regional transport officers to initiate action against unauthorised operators.

A formal letter in this regard must be issued to the RTO, with a copy forwarded to the KSRTC department for further follow-up, he said. The chairman noted that unchecked private or contract carriage operations often lead to commuter inconvenience and can affect the functioning of government-run bus services.

KSRTC buses instructed to stop at Mulki

Under the State Government’s Shakti scheme, which offers free bus travel to women, Mundodi directed KSRTC officials to ensure that buses running on the Mangaluru–Udupi and Mangaluru–Kundapur routes halt at Mulki to pick up or drop off passengers. He said that the driving staff must be clearly informed of the instruction so that commuters are not inconvenienced.

KSRTC officials also briefed the committee that an application had been submitted for a bus permit for the Sullia–Thodikana route. Once the permit is granted, KSRTC will commence services on the stretch, they added.

Focus on beneficiary support under Yuva Nidhi schemes

Speaking on the Yuva Nidhi and Yuva Nidhi Plus schemes, Mundodi said eligible youth must be encouraged to undergo skill development training to enhance their employability. He stressed the importance of providing timely guidance to beneficiaries on job roles, training opportunities, and career pathways.

A district-level beneficiary meeting of guarantee schemes has been scheduled for December 23, during which information about various government programmes will be disseminated. Additionally, a dedicated training workshop for Yuva Nidhi beneficiaries will be organised under the Yuva Nidhi Plus scheme. Participants will receive detailed inputs related to job profiles and skill enhancement modules.

Gruha Lakshmi registrations cross 3.80 lakh

Officials from the women and child development department informed the committee that 467 beneficiaries registered for the Gruha Lakshmi scheme between November 20 and December 8. Till date, 3,80,116 beneficiaries in the district have registered under the scheme, which provides monthly financial assistance to eligible women heads of households.

Mundodi noted that the scheme continues to see strong enrolment and requested officials to ensure that the registration process remains smooth, particularly for women in rural and remote areas.

Food kits to be distributed after tender process

The deputy director of the food, civil supplies, and consumer affairs department informed the committee that the Government has approved the distribution of food kits. The kits will be supplied once the ongoing tendering process is completed. Mundodi urged the department to expedite the procedure so that beneficiaries receive the kits at the earliest.

Officials present

Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat CEO Narwade Vinayak Karbhari and senior officials from various departments attended the review meeting.

The district administration concluded that strengthened monitoring, improved coordination, and timely service delivery will be essential for the effective implementation of the State’s guarantee schemes.