‘Applications for BPL, APL cards will be cleared by month-end’

Verification was delayed as staff was caught up in Dasara, other works: official

Officials of the Department of Food and Civil Supplies in Mysore are hoping to complete the task of verifying the submitted online for BPL (below poverty line) and APL (above poverty line) cards in Mysore district by November-end.

Out of 1.5 lakh applications received, 8,000 cards were distributed, mostly to BPL families. The department printed about 12,000 cards, but only 8,000 beneficiaries had collected cards.

As many as 616 Village Accountants and Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs) in rural areas and Revenue Inspectors in urban areas were identified as Fair Price Depot-level Officers (FLOs) in the district. They will facilitate verification of applications. Food inspectors of the department will later decide on issuing cards to applicants based on reports from FLOs, officials at the department said here.

“Around 40 per cent of applications have been verified, and work on the remainder is underway. The data furnished by applicants is being matched with the data already stored in the department’s central server, to overcome duplication. FLOs have been identified for the first time to support the department in this task,” said K. Rameshwarappa, Deputy Director of Food and Civil Supplies, Mysore. He told

The Hindu that FLOs had three major tasks to fulfil: verifying new applications; verifying old ration cards; and monitoring distribution in fair price shops (FPS).

However, a source in the department here told The Hindu that Village Accountants had expressed reservations to the idea of being roped in as FLOs. “The issue has remained unresolved. Nevertheless, arrangements are being worked out to complete necessary formalities,” the source said.

Mr. Rameshwarappa was confident that pending applications could be cleared by the deadline. Between 75 and 80 per cent of the remaining applications will be cleared this week, he said. He admitted that verification had been delayed as the staff was caught up in Dasara arrangements and other work. However, the verification process had been expedited, he added.

A total of 5,86,000 beneficiaries were availing benefits extended to BPL families. There are 1,29,000 APL cardholders in the district, he informed.

Mr. Rameshwarappa said there was provision for submitting fresh applications seeking BPL and APL cards. As many as 92 agencies had been identified for uploading applications online, along with photographs of beneficiaries and their family members.

On receiving applications, the agencies will in turn upload them to the department’s server. Agencies have been given login IDs for this purpose.

Around 1,057 fair price shops distribute rice under the Anna Bhagya in the district.

In Mysore city alone, over 1,11,734 BPL families receive foodgrains from 266 fair price shops.