Food Minister K.H. Muniyappa announced measures to identify ineligible ration cardholders and issue new cards to deserving beneficiaries

Davangere

Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa has announced that unauthorized ration card holders in the district will be identified, and new ration cards will be issued to eligible beneficiaries. He made these remarks while chairing a progress review meeting with district food department officials at the Davangere inspection office.

The district currently has around 4 lakh ration cards, serving over 15 lakh people through 729 fair price shops. Steps are also being taken to approve new fair price shops under the quota system, specifically for the Madiga community. Officials have been directed to ensure that only eligible applicants receive ration cards, and that rightful beneficiaries are correctly identified during the process.

The meeting also highlighted the role of the Legal Metrology Department in safeguarding consumer interests. Officials were instructed to monitor the accuracy of weights and measures, prevent fraud at petrol stations, inspect shop weighing machines, and issue certificates after proper verification and sealing.

District Joint Deputy Director Madhu Sudan, Assistant Controller of Legal Metrology Venkatesh, and other officials attended the meeting. Minister Muniyappa emphasized that these measures aim to ensure fair distribution of resources, eliminate irregularities, and strengthen transparency in the ration card system, ultimately benefiting the district’s deserving citizens.

K.H. Muniyappa announced that the central government has decided to cancel BPL cards for families with an annual income exceeding ₹1.2 lakh, he said the government conducted a survey to identify ineligible cardholders, and steps will be taken to cancel these cards while ensuring eligible beneficiaries are not affected.

On internal reservation, Muniyappa highlighted that the historic decision to implement it has fairly distributed benefits among 101 communities. He emphasized that no injustice has been done and urged communities to utilize the opportunity wisely.

He also commented on the recent tragic accident in Mosalehosahalli during Ganesh festival celebrations, stressing the need for better police security and regulation of firecrackers.

During a progress review meeting of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, officials reported that 3,65,614 ineligible BPL cards have been cancelled or re-categorized. Guidelines were issued for providing nutritious food kits under the Anna Bhagya Yojana, ensuring proper support reaches eligible families.