The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : BPL cards before December 15

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

BPL cards before December 15

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The State Cabinet on Tuesday has decided to distribute ration cards under the public distribution system to 12.71 lakh below poverty line (BPL) families before December 15.

It has also decided to distribute bicycles to 4.35 lakh eligible students in 2007-08.

Minister V.S. Acharya told presspersons here after the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that all deputy commissioners would be instructed to distribute ration cards before December 15.

The deputy commissioners had received 40 lakh applications from poor families seeking ration cards.

According to a survey conducted by the Government, 61.64 per cent of the families in the State lived below the poverty line.

As many as 70.34 lakh cards had been distributed to eligible poor families in the State.

The Planning Commission had asked the State Government to limit the percentage of BPL families to 31 per cent, Dr. Acharya said.

Coupons

The deputy commissioners would be instructed to issue coupons to BPL families temporarily.

Later, the families would be issued permanent BPL cards, he said.

The officials would be asked to conduct a campaign to eliminate duplicate BPL cards before March 31.

The deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, tahsildars and officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department would participate in the campaign, Mr. Acharya said.

Bicycles

A decision had been taken to distribute bicycles to 2.50 lakh girls and 1.85 boys studying in eighth standard this fiscal year.

A sum of Rs. 90 crore had been earmarked in the State budget for the purpose.

Dr. Acharya said each bicycle would be purchased at a cost of Rs. 2,050, an increase of Rs. 20 compared to the previous year.

The four leading companies would be asked to deliver bicycles in 75 days.

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