Food and Civil Supplies Minister U.T. Khader on Tuesday said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would launch distribution of pulses under the public distribution system by this month-end while the supply would start from next month.
Mr. Khader told reporters here that one kg of either toor dal or green gram dal would be provided to BPL card-holders every month. This goes in line with Mr. Siddaramaiah’s 2016 Independence Day announcement that not only carbohydrates but also proteins would be provided to BPL card-holders, the Minister said.
Supply of refined sunflower oil to BPL card-holders would also start in Bengaluru and Dakshina Kannada from next month. Whatever subsidy was being given to palm oil would be given to sunflower oil too and consumers have to pay the differential price.
The government has cleared a proposal to sell white kerosene oil in the open market to cater to the demand for the product. Anyone interested in selling the oil may approach the department for licence, Mr. Khader said.
Stating that the government has been taking several measures to make PDS attractive, Mr. Khader said Karnataka is the first State to bring ration cards under Sakala scheme. The applicant would have the right to know the status of application for the card and expect its delivery within the specified time, he said. However, the applicant has to file the application at the gram panchayat office and visit it at least once.
Mr. Khader said the department would allow all PDS shops in the State to dispense food coupons too by March 31. In the coming days, PDS shops would also function as service centres as regards to ration cards — accepting applications, effecting corrections etc.—for a fee, he added.
