Thousands of BPL cards converted to APL cards

BENGALURU: The beneficiaries of the Karnataka government’s key schemes, Anna Bhagya and Gruha Laxmi, are facing numerous issues. Thousands of BPL cardholders are shocked as the government has cancelled their cards, leaving them without rations for months. The reason: holding BPL cards despite being ineligible due to factors like GST/IT payments or government employment. This has now become a major concern  for the poorer sections.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah clarified that only ineligible BPL cards were cancelled, and eligible cardholders face no issues. However, this has affected thousands, with many in Bengaluru also losing their BPL cards.

The Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs department cites various reasons for cancellation, but affected individuals remain unaware of the specific reason for their card cancellation.

Public TV exclusively conducted a reality check in this regard to know how families are suffering after the cancellation of BPL card.

Renuka, a resident of Rajagopal Nagar, had a BPL card for eight years. However, when she visited the fair price shop two months ago, she was denied rations due to an online notification stating she paid income tax (IT).

Despite owning a house, she has no income-generating assets and her husband Shivakumar is unemployed. She claimed that the website incorrectly listed her as a taxpayer. Renuka said she has documents to prove non-payment of income tax.

The cancellation of her BPL card has severely affected her husband Shivakumar, who suffers from heart disease and cannot afford treatment at private hospitals, leaving the couple in distress.

In another case, Kalpana, a resident of Nelagadaranahalli in Bengaluru, is facing issues with her ration card due to an incorrect notification stating she filed income tax returns (ITR).

As a result, she’s unable to receive rations. Kalpana has two sons, with the elder earning only Rs 12,000, and the younger, Kiran, suffering from hemophilia, requiring injections costing Rs 5,500. Without the BPL card, Kalpana is worried about affording Kiran’s treatment.

A poor family in Jai Maruthi Nagar in  Mahalakshmi Layout Assembly Constituency, has been struggling since their BPL card was converted to APL, citing income tax payment as the reason. The family, living in a rented house, has been unable to receive rice for the past two months.

Their monthly income is only Rs 12,000, and they were told they’re no longer eligible for BPL benefits or the Bhagya Lakshmi scheme. The family is now desperate, struggling to access government services and healthcare.

The family had held the BPL card for seven-eight years, but the sudden change has left them in a difficult situation, unsure of how to cope.

The decision of the government has affected some families and also in obtaining government facilities, including Ayushman Bharat, scholarships, Gruha Laxmi money, and many others.