The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : `Ration cards should be used only to get foodgrains'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 24, 2006
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Ration cards should be used only to get foodgrains'

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: To prevent misuse of ration cards, the State Government is planning ban on use of ration cards by below poverty line (BPL) families to obtain income certificates, driving licences, for school admission and for other purposes.

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Govind Karjol said the ration cards had to be used by BPL families only for obtaining foodgrains in ration shops and not for other purposes. He had submitted a proposal to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to ban use of cards by BPL families for purposes other than foodgrains. About 5-6 per cent of eligible families were still denied of BPL cards in the State, Mr. Karjol said.

He was speaking to presspersons after releasing a book on weights and measures authored by M. Chikkanarasimhaiah, a retired Government employee.

Mr. Karjol said officials of the department were continuing raids on helmet shops to detect sale of inferior quality ones.

He said shortage of staff and vehicles had hit the functioning of the department. A proposal had been submitted to the Finance Department seeking Rs. 85 lakh to purchase vehicles.

The revenue of the department would be doubled if adequate staff and equipment were provided.

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