Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Aug 17: In a strict measure to weed out bogus cards and plug the leakage of rations, the state food department has decided to temporarily deactivate Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards that have not been used to collect foodgrains for the past six months. Simultaneously, the department has mandated Aadhaar authentication (e-KYC) for all ration cardholders by September 30.
Under the central government's 'Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana' and the state's 'Anna Bhagya' scheme, a total of 10 kg of foodgrains is distributed free of cost to every BPL card member, while Antyodaya cardholders receive 35 kg every month through fair price shops.
Despite this, officials noted that over a lac cardholders across the state show no interest in collecting their monthly rations. As a result, cards found inactive for six months during the ongoing e-KYC drive will be temporarily blocked.
The department has ordered a total of 2,67,64,276 beneficiaries in the state—comprising 25,91,145 Antyodaya members and 2,41,73,131 BPL beneficiaries—who completed their e-KYC five years ago, to re-authenticate before the September 30 deadline. So far, only about 20 lac beneficiaries have completed the process statewide.
Since Aadhaar seeding was not conducted over the past four years, officials suspect that at least 10 lac beneficiaries may have died during this period, with allegations that their families are still collecting rations in their names. In accordance with the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and Supreme Court directives, every member listed on a ration card must visit their respective fair price shop to complete the e-KYC authentication.
Over 6.6 lac beneficiaries pending e-KYC in Dakshina Kannada
Meanwhile, in Dakshina Kannada district, a massive number of beneficiaries are yet to complete the mandate. The deputy director of the food, civil supplies and consumer affairs department stated that e-KYC is currently pending for 6,62,195 beneficiaries spread across 2,16,436 ration cards in the district.
All fair price shops have been instructed to ensure the mandatory e-KYC is completed, failing which beneficiaries will face disruptions in receiving their rations.
The taluk-wise breakdown of pending ration cards and beneficiaries in Dakshina Kannada is as follows:
- Bantwal: 45,480 cards (1,41,923 beneficiaries)
- Belthangady: 37,532 cards (1,11,798 beneficiaries)
- Kadaba: 15,074 cards (43,040 beneficiaries)
- Mangaluru: 38,364 cards (1,16,437 beneficiaries)
- Moodbidri: 11,365 cards (33,252 beneficiaries)
- Mulki: 8,055 cards (23,617 beneficiaries)
- Puttur: 22,116 cards (69,304 beneficiaries)
- Sullia: 14,247 cards (41,630 beneficiaries)
- Ullal: 24,203 cards (81,194 beneficiaries)