Dispose pending ration card applications in 30-days: UT Khader

MANGALURU: District minister UT Khader on Monday directed officials of department of food and civil supplies to dispose all pending applications received for issue of ration card within a month. Additionally, the officials should also take steps to provide new ration cards to those who apply afresh within a fortnight, he said, taking note of the fact that 5,186 applications were still awaiting the official nod before cards could be distributed to applicants.
Chairing departmental review meeting here, Khader sought clarification from deputy director of the department that ration will be provided only against biometric entry of beneficiaries. “Ration should be provided through fair price shops against biometric data of any member of the family,” the minister said, adding the department should take steps to obtain biometric data of all members of the family in the future and not create confusion.
Department should process applications and supply new ration cards to applicants who provide their Aadhaar number and income certificate within 15-days of receiving application. Priority should be given to supply of boiled rice to beneficiaries in the district, he said, while directing the officials to ensure the quality of rice and pulses supplied. There should be no compromise on quality of food grains supplied at any cost, he said.
The department has advertised to start 25 new fair price shops across the district and the same should be finalised at the earliest. With Dakshina Kannada district having reached 96 per cent target in distribution of LPG to people, Khader said the district is well poised to reach 100 per cent target in the next 48-hours. Officials should take care to explain to beneficiaries that first two refills under the government’s Anila Bhagya scheme are free, Khader said.