Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Sep 26: Minister for food, civil supplies, consumer affairs and legal metrology K H Muniyappa instructed officials to expedite the identification of ineligible BPL (Below Poverty Line) cards in the district, while ensuring that eligible card holders face no inconvenience.

Presiding over a departmental progress review meeting on September 26 at the Rajathadri DC office auditorium in Manipal, the minister highlighted that Karnataka ranks second in the country in terms of economic status. Citing a central government survey, he said that the state has more than seven lac ineligible BPL cards. The state government has begun a revision process to identify such ration cards and convert them into APL (Above Poverty Line) cards at the earliest.

He clarified that if any eligible BPL card is mistakenly converted to APL, the beneficiaries can submit the relevant documents to the taluk tahsildar, after which their cards will promptly be reverted to BPL status.

Muniyappa directed that all ineligible ration cards in the district must be converted to APL as per government norms. He warned that if ration rice is found hoarded or sold illegally, strict legal action will follow.

The district has 295 fair price shops, 1,95,058 Antyodaya and priority ration cards, and serves 8,31,846 beneficiaries. Udupi ranks third in the state in ration distribution. In September, 40,375.45 quintals of rice were distributed, achieving 78.42 percent progress, he informed.

The district has achieved 99.30 percent completion in e-KYC (Know Your Customer) verification, with door-to-door visits being conducted to complete the process. In September, 2,950 ineligible ration cards were identified, of which 2,739 were converted to non-priority cards. The remaining 211 cards have been directed to be cleared on priority.

A total of 13,947 applications were received for priority ration cards, of which 13,412 have been resolved, leaving 535 pending. For non-priority ration cards, 12,332 applications were received, with 10,294 resolved and 2,038 pending. The minister instructed that these pending applications must be disposed of at the earliest.

Under the Essential Commodities Act, nine cases were registered in the district, seizing 200.95 quintals of rice and three vehicles, with a total fine of Rs 2 lac collected.

The minister also directed officials of the legal metrology department to continuously inspect shops, malls and petrol pumps in the district to check weights and measures. “Protecting consumer interests is the primary duty of every officer. Officials must be mindful of their responsibilities and ensure that consumers are not cheated in day-to-day transactions,” he said.

The meeting was attended by deputy commissioner Swaroop T K, additional deputy commissioner Abid Gafoor, food and civil supplies deputy director Rashmi, Dakshina Kannada deputy director Anita Madluru, officials of the legal metrology department, food inspectors and other staff.