Stephan Kayyar

Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (EP)

Kasargod, Sep 20: The government has taken steps to distribute new ration cards by the end of March next year. Application forms for new ration cards will be distributed from October 25. The application forms will be accepted at the ration shops till November 5.

Camps for taking pictures of the applicants will be held after November 12. A camp each will be held for two ration shops. The ration cards will be issued in the name of eldest woman in the house. It will be issued in the name of an elderly man if there is no lady in the house.

The information regarding the filled in applications will be published in the website from December 11. BPL and APL lists will be prepared subsequently and the cards will be segregated likewise. The process will be held for a month from January 1. Grama officials, panchayat secretary, ICDS supervisors and appointed members will verify the records.

The list so prepared will be approved, between February 21 and March 5 by the local administration. The administration will issue only those cards which are approved. The cards will reach the consumers by March end. As new cards are being issued, the process of renewal and corrections is suspended.

National food bill will come into existence from October 1 which will enable most of the card holders to obtain subsidy. The ration cards were last renewed in 1997. There are 61,67,672 APL, 14,75,538 BPL cards, 5,70,392 Anthyodaya cards and 28,160 Annapurna cards at present.