Hundreds of slum-dwellers in the city protested on Thursday demanding the immediate withdrawal of cumbersome procedures laid down by the Food and Civil Supplies Department while applying for ration cards.
Addressing the gathering, N.P. Samy, president, Karnataka Kolageri Nivasigala Samyuktha Sanghatane, said the latest circular of the Food and Civil Supplies Department has enlisted new procedures to apply for new ration cards. It insisted that people should apply through their mobile phones after which the applicants are supposed to go to the centre where their documents would be scrutinised.
Mr. Samy said the new procedures would make it difficult for the urban poor to get ration cards. “The poor communities in the State are unable to withstand the onslaught of spiralling prices of essential commodities and the circular, with its anti-poor approach, has increased their burden.”
Sanghatane district president Leelavathy said the State government should cancel the licence of the fair price shops guilty of manipulating their stocks and black marketing foodgrains.
