Ration card holders in Karnataka can buy rations at any PDS shops

Ration card holders can now purchase ration from any Public Distribution Shops in the State The new system was introduced to facilitate labourers who travel from place to place in search of job The PDS shops cannot force the ration card holder to purchase other items like pulses, oil etc 8.50 lakh unofficial ration cards have been cancelled and cards are linked to Aadhar

In a major development, the Food and Cul Supplies Minister UT Khader has announced that ration card holders can now purchase ration from any Public Distribution Shops (PDS) in the State. He announced this at the 'Hello Minister', a live phone in programme on Suvarna Channel, reports Kannada Prabha.

Minister Khadar said this new system was introduced to facilitate labourers who travel from place to place in search of job. This will facilitate them to purchase rice, wheat and other materials at PDS shops anywhere in the State. He was answering a question by one Ravichandra of Ballari and said there are no restrictions to purchase them from their home town. The ration card holders must have their ration card, Aadhaar and ration coupons with them, he said.

The Minister also said that if the PDS shop owners insist on buying pulses, oil and other materials along with the ration complaints should be lodged against them. Answering a query from one Ramesh from Bengaluru, the Minister said the PDS shops can sell other materials also but they cannot force the ration card holder to purchase anything other than what they want. Action will be taken against them if complaints are lodged, he assured. An App has been developed to detect cheating in weight and other issues. The consumers just have to press ‘yes’ on the relevant category, the complaint will be recorded. It will be immediately accessed to the department officials, who will take action, in case of cheating. They are required to investigate and report within a week, he said.

There were 8.50 lakh unofficial ration cards in the State. All of them have been cancelled and now cards with Aadhar links are issued. This has saved Rs 300 crore to the State. Public can call 1967 for complaints. They can also lodge complaints with the local three-member vigilance committees, he said.

APL card holders can also get 10 kg of rice at Rs 15 per kg. But the card holder has to register at the gram panchayat stating that they want rice. For charitable institutions that serve food to public and those that distribute free food are given 15 kg per person for six months free of cost, he said, reports Kannada Prabha.

In Bengaluru 4.70 lakh applications are submitted for BPL cards. They are being scrutinized and the cards will reach their doorstep next month. Chamarajanagar is the last in terms of distribution of ration cards.  A total of 21,000 have submitted applications but not even 10 per cent has been processed.