BPL, APL families which have not taken PDS rice in last three months stand to lose cards

BENGALURU: The BPL and APL card holders, especially those who have obtained ration cards for the purpose of proof of residence and those families which have not taken rice since the last three months will lose ration cards.

The Food and Civil Supplies Department has decided to cancel the cards of those families which have not taken rice for the last three months and is conducting a survey in this regard. At least five lakh ration cards have already been cancelled.

Food and Civil Supplies Department Managing Director Gyanendra Kumar, said the ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme has been successfully implemented. “We are giving 5 kg of rice and and an additional amount towards five kg of extra rice. In some cases, the money has not reached the beneficiaries. So, the department has started a survey to cancel the ration cards of those who have not taken rice for three months from fair price shops. Almost five lakh cards have been cancelled this month”, he noted.

The MD further said that money has been deposited into the bank accounts of the heads of families for the month of August in lieu of the additional five kg of rice. In the meantime, they are conducting a survey to identify Priority Household (PHH) ration card holders who own four-wheelers (private registered cars), and details from the same were cross-verified with the Aadhaar database. Based on these details, ration cards are cancelled, considering them ineligible. “If a family has not taken ration for three months, they will have to apply for a new ration card again. The ration card can be used for medical emergencies”, he added.