Food and Civil Supplies Minister U.T. Khader has asked fishermen from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada to submit within two months details of their bank accounts to which the government will transfer the kerosene subsidy amount.
Talking to reporters here on Wednesday, Mr. Khader said that the State government had decided to transfer kerosene subsidy amount to bank accounts of fishermen and hence, he was asking them to provide details.
The government wanted to transfer funds in September itself when the fishing season resumed following the ban between June and August.
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The fishermen gave a representation stating their problem and asked the State government to continue with the old practice of allotting them kerosene from the quantity released by the Centre for distribution through the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Mr. Khader said that the Finance Department rejected the proposal of the fishermen and was firm on transfer of subsidy amount to their bank accounts.
The Minister said that the fishermen have been given two months for submitting their bank account details. During this period, kerosene will be given to fishermen out of the Centre’s allocation meant under the PDS.
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As many as 1,213 fishermen from Dakshina Kannada received kerosene at subsidised rate from the State government last year.
Caution
Mr. Khader asked people not to be carried away by speeches of BJP national president Amit Shah, who is slated to visit the city in the next few days.
The people should question Mr. Shah on the work of the Centre in addressing issues, including inflation and creation of one crore jobs, h said.
Criticising MP Shobha Karadlaje for her statement that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should do “Loot ki baat” instead of “Kaam ki baat”, Mr. Khader said that Ms. Karandlaje has no moral right to point a finger at Mr. Siddaramaiah when there are allegations of misappropriation against her and other BJP leaders in the State.