VIJAYAWADA: The district administration is expecting a 10 per cent increase in white ration cardholders by the time the current exercise of issuing new cards comes to an end.

There are about 77,000 white cards prior to the current drive and there will be a slight increase in their number as almost all low-income groups are showing interest to take white cards and enjoy benefits that come with them.

Rules liberalised

Joint Collector P. Sampath Kumar says that more genuine families will get white cards in the present exercise and it is also due to the fact that the Government has liberalised rules for issuing ration cards. Income limit has been raised for below poverty line (BPL) families. "We are considering even for those having gas connections and consuming electricity up to Rs. 500 per month," Mr. Kumar points out. The beauty of the new process is that specific needs of BPL families can be identified with regard to their need for food, kerosene and health subsidies, the Joint Collector says.

As on July 31, about 21,000 white cards have been issued at different designated photography locations (DPLs) in the city. The officials have found another 37,622 BPL families eligible for ration cards. Printing of cards is going on and they will be issued cards between August 3 and 5. At most ration card issuing centres in the city, the declaration forms with regard to BPL families have been accepted and their group photos and iris identification marks have been taken.

More low-income groups will be covered in the last days of the exercise and it may continue up to August 10.

The likely increase in white cards has not come as a surprise for the officials. They are confident that issue of cards through DPLs and iris identification has rooted the problem of false ration cards completely.

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