Food and Civil Supplies Dept clarifies no cancellation of APL cards with no e-KYC

BENGALURU: Amid allegations of cancellation of APL cards which are not e-KYC verified, the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department has issued a clarification that no such instruction has been given by the department and that no APL (Above Poverty Line) cards have been cancelled.

The department also dismissed reports of 22 lakh BPL cards being cancelled. Recently, a report was published that APL cards without e-KYC verification would be cancelled, but the department has denied any such move.

As of September 2, Karnataka had 2,513,798 APL cards, which has increased to 25,62,566 as of November 16, with 48,768 additional cards converted from Below Poverty Line (BPL) to APL.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa stated that no APL cards have been cancelled, with over 25 lakh cards still active. “Those ineligible for BPL category will be shifted to APL, and both APL and BPL cardholders remain eligible for government scheme benefits. No cards have been deactivated and no districts have cancelled cards, ensuring existing benefits continue unchanged”, he explained.

Previously, allegations surfaced that the Food Department cancelled lakhs of BPL and APL cards which had not completed e-KYC. Reports claimed over 60,000 BPL cards were converted to APL and lakhs of APL cards were cancelled for not linking it to Aadhaar. However, the department has clarified these allegations are untrue.