MYSORE: The State Government Fair Price Shop Dealers Association has taken exception to the "unscientific" manner in which the Government carried out a re-survey of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in 2005. It has urged the Government to immediately stop distribution of ration cards to the beneficiaries.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, T. Krishnappa, Association president, said the Statewide survey carried out by the Department of Rural Development in 2001 showed that there are 75 lakh BPL families and 42 lakh Above Poverty Line (APL) families in the State. But the re-survey conducted by the Department of Food and Civil supplies shows only 64 lakh BPL families.

The number of BPL families in the State cannot decrease by 11 lakhs in a span of four years. The methodology of the survey carried out in 2005 was flawed, Mr. Krishnappa said.

"The Government should carry out another survey of BPL families in a scientific manner and begin issuing ration cards only after inviting objections from those who have been left out in the list," Mr. Krishnappa said.

The Government should display the existing list in the offices of gram panchayats, taluk panchayats, zilla panchayats, town municipalities and wards of City Corporations and invite objections from the people.

"Let them prepare a fresh list after inviting objections," Mr. Krishnappa said. Many have been left out of the BPL list, he said.

Bifurcation

He said that the number should have logically gone up in view of the bifurcation of BPL families over the last four years. "It is not possible that the economic condition of so many BPL families improved over the years", he said.

Plea

Mr. Krishnappa said the association representatives met the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Govind Karjol and requested him to stop distribution of ration cards until anomalies in the BPL list are rectified.

He urged the Government to exercise restraint while issuing licences for fair price shops.

"A fair price shop owner will not be able to break even if he does not have a minimum of 500 BPL card-holders attached to his shop. Licences for new fair price shops can be given only if the number of BPL cardholders are more than 500 in a given area," Mr. Krishnappa said.

Mr. Krishnappa urged the Government to increase their commission to Rs. 35 per quintal.

"The Government decided to increase the commission from Rs. 25 to Rs. 29 after we made a representation.

I request the Government to match the commission given to fair price shops in Punjab," he said.

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