Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru(DV)
Mangaluru, Aug 24: Karnataka food and civil supplies department will be implementing the system of distributing food security coupons in all the district headquarters with effect from September 1. The coupons enable the ration card holders to buy ration items from any of the public distribution shops within the limits of the concernedurban local bodies from that date. This was disclosed by state minister for food and civil supplies, U T Khader.
He was addressing a press meet at circuit house here on Tuesday August 23.
"With effect from October this year, this system will be introduced in all taluk and hobli levels. Later, thi scheme will be expanded to cover the entire state. In Mangaluru citym we have received 20 applications seeking to open franchise offices to distribute coupons. For each of the coupons being distributed by these centres, the department would be paying five rupees as charges. Initially coupns will be issued every month. Later, the coupons will be issued once a year. In the case of specially abled and senior citizens, food and civil supplies department officials will visit them and deliver the coupons," he explained.
He also that he would convene a meeting with the elected corporaters for the effective implementation of the programme. He also urged people to link mobile number to Adhar card. In future people can obtain ration by showing the text message by dialing 161, and later 4 in their mobile phone. Voice and text message will be
received in their phones, which can be shown to Public Distribution System (PDS) shops for collecting food grains," he stated.
He also said that that NPL families will have the choice of choosing either sunflower oil or coconut oil as an alternative to palm oil presently being providied at subsidised rates. This system will come into fore within a couple of months. While the government will not shoulder any additional burden under the scheme, coconut may fetch better price as a result, he said.
On a question about actress Ramya having been accused of seidition because of her comments praising Pakistan, UT Khader said, "It is her personnel opinion. Those who term it as sedition and file case should introspect. Why no one questioned when PM Narendra Modi visited wedding ceremony of Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif's granddaughter without invitation? Why no one raised hue and cry when it was said that underworld fugitive, Dawood Ibrahim, was also present at the programme? Why no one filed case against LK Advani, when he visited Pakistan and praised Mohammed Ali Jinnah? These people should come out with their opinion about Godse. Why these people who were observing the Akhanda Bharatha Sankalpa Diwas stopped it in recent days? It is because our constitution and democracy is so strong," Khader added.