From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Nov 11: All pending applications for ration cards will be cleared and given ration cards by the end of this month, Food and Civil Supplies Miniser Dinesh Gundu Rao announced on Monday.

Speaking to reporters in Bangalore, he said nearly 35 lakh applications were pending for issuing ration cards across the State.
 
The Food and Civil Supplies Department has issued 95 lakh below poverty line and 30 lakh above poverty line cards so far.

The department has received 3.95 lakh applications in Bangalore City and Bangalore Urban district and only 6 per cent of applications have been cleared.

The minister chaired a meeting of Bangalore City MLAs and discussed several issues in the distribution of food items and issuing of ration cards to eligible families.

Transport Minister B Ramalinga Reddy and Minister of State for Agriculture C Krishna Byre Gowda also attended the meeting.

Gundu Rao said officers drawn from Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Revenue and Food and Civil Supplies Department have been appointed as Fair price shop level officers (FLOs) for every one or two ration shops to identify eligible applications for BPL cards.

Before issuing BPL cards, the FLOs would find out eligibility of applicants, he said.

There were 21,027 ration shops in the State.

Following complaints from aggrieved applicants, he said the Department has decided to scrap the system of an “introducer” for applying for ration cards.

Applicants will have to bring their electoral photo identity cards while submitting online applications, he said.

So far, APL and BPL families have to bring an introducer to submit an application seeking a new card online.

The decision of having an introducer, who is already a ration card holder, was taken to prevent bogus ration cards.

However, the department had received several complaints against owners of cyber cafés.

He said the department has commenced a comprehensive drive to verify authenticity of ration cards in Bangalore.

Two teams, each comprising 21 inspectors, have been formed to conduct the drive. The teams would randomly select fair price shop and verify ration cards. If necessary, they would visit houses of the card holders, the minister said.