Report and Pics by Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (RD)
 
Udupi, Jun 3: The distribution programme of computerized ration cards with the photographs of residents was held at Karje gram panchayat office, near here on Wednesday June 3 morning.
 
MLA Raghupati Bhat symbolically inaugurated the distribution, by handing over the photo ration cards to a few villagers at the programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhat said that owing to the backlog of work in various administrative offices, issuance of computerized ration cards with photographs was delayed. The change over of state administration in the past also contributed to the delay. 

Meanwhile, a few discrepancies in the issue of computerized ration cards were being cited, which were attributed to the survey undertaken five to six years ago.  About 95,784 Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards and 17,813 Annapoorna cards were issued to the residents in the district here. Moreover, a total of 1, 19,322 computerized photo ration cards to Above Poverty Level (APL) have been issued so far.  Nearly 1,14,000 heads of families were identified to issue APL cards, who will have to apply through the temporary Nemmadi Centres, set up across the district, he said.
 
MLA Raghupati also urged the state administration to set up a full-fledged Nemmadi Centre at the district headquarter here, for the efficient issuance of computerized photo ration cards.
 
Taluk panchayat chief executive officer Ramanand Nayak, food and civil supplies deputy director Vijayalaxmi Shenoy and Karje gram panchayat president Balakrishna Shetty were present on the dais.
 
Tahsildar Prasanna welcomed the gathering and proposed vote of thanks.