TNN

Bangalore, Jun 23: If you can’t appeal to the heart and mind, target the stomach. That’s been the strategy of the BJP government in Karnataka in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

In a delicious twist of irony, Karnataka has more ration cards than families. In February-March, 25 lakh families were issued temporary ration cards, based on selfdeclared affidavits. This has added to the confusion on the number of BPL families.

According to the Right To Food Campaign in Karnataka, temporary ration cards were distributed mainly in Shimoga, Davanagere, Kolar, Bellary, Udupi, Tumkur and Gulbarga. “Around 36 lakh families had permanent cards till 2002. As the number of BPL families was more, permanent cards were withdrawn, initiating a series of BPL resurveys. Due to this, people don’t have permanent ration cards, especially in rural areas, for 3-4 years,” said C V Nagaraj, the campaign’s co-ordinator for Karnataka.

Based on the National Sample Survey Organisation, there are 31.6 lakh BPL and AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana) families in Karnataka, and the Centre, therefore, releases ration to only 31.6 lakh families. Now, with a large majority of the population allegedly poor, grain distribution to deserving beneficiaries will be affected.

Sriram Raghavan, CEO, Comat Technologies, said, “Government asked us to issue ration cards to those who claimed they were BPL. Based on self-affidavits through our Nemmadi centres, around 25 lakh temporary cards were distributed. Many will need to be verified. Over two years, 90 lakh families have been identified and we’ll soon complete the card distribution.”