Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Sep 12: All permanent employees in the district whose income is not considered for eligibility, including those working in government or government-aided institutions, government-sponsored, government-owned institutions/boards/corporations/autonomous bodies, and families paying income tax/service tax/VAT/professional tax, have been instructed to return their ration cards if they are ineligible.

Families owning more than three hectares of dry land or equivalent irrigated land in rural areas, or those owning a house with an area larger than 1,000 square feet in urban areas, families owning a commercial vehicle like a tractor, maxicab, or taxi, and those with an annual income exceeding Rs 1.20 lac, are also deemed ineligible for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (BPL) ration benefits.

Public holding Antyodaya Anna Yojana or Priority Households (BPL) ration cards in violation of the government's eligibility criteria are urged to immediately surrender their cards at the taluk tahsildar's office and apply for a non-priority (APL) ration card.

A district-level inspection team has been formed to identify ineligible ration cardholders. If any ineligible person is found during inspections, they will be penalized with the market value of the grains they received, and legal action will be taken against them under the Karnataka Unauthorized Possession of Ration Cards (Possession & Control) Order, 1977, deputy commissioner Dr K Vidya Kumari has warned in an official release.