CM tells officers: Cancel BPL cards for ‘ineligible’ people

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah directed officials to scrap Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards held by those ineligible, pointing out that 80 per cent of the state's population have them.

As per the NITI (National Institute for Transforming India) Aayog, the percentage of people below the poverty line should be 5.67 per cent of the citizens of Karnataka, he said, adding the BPL cards should be provided only to those who are eligible.

It is to be noted that 4.67 crore people or 80 per cent have BPL cards. The CM issued the direction while addressing a meeting of district Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), and in-charge secretaries at the conference hall of the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Monday.

“About 80 per cent of the state’s population has BPL cards, compared to 40 per cent in Tamil Nadu, said Siddaramaiah. According to NITI Aayog, the percentage of people below the poverty line in the state should be lesser. However, we have given BPL cards to 1.27 crore families in the state. BPL cards with ineligible people should be cancelled and BPL cards should be provided to only those who are eligible,” Siddaramaiah said.

Moreover, 6.17 lakh BPL cards of dead persons have been cancelled between December 2021 and February 2024. The Siddaramaiah government has the obligation of securing free rice for the BPL card holders under the Anna Bhagya scheme at a cost of Rs 8,000 crore.

BPL card-holding women can also claim a monthly allowance under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme at a cost of Rs 28,000 crore to the exchequer. Karnataka is also responsible for 76 lakh pensioners.

Bring dengue under control: CM

Amid a spike in dengue cases, he asked officials to work for its control on a war footing, and directed DCs and District Health Officers (DHOs) to hold regular meetings with taluk-level officials and work expeditiously.

Stating that development and progress are not possible if the Deputy Commissioners assume that they are “Maharajas” (great kings) the Chief Minister instructed both politicians and officers to remember that they are public servants and must serve people.

“DCs, SPs (Superintendents of Police), and CEOs should work proactively and in coordination to effectively deliver government programmes and projects to the common people,” Siddaramaiah said.

Action has been taken against lower-level officers for their indifference, negligence and dereliction of duty until now, he said. The CM warned that will also hold senior officials accountable and take action if results aren’t delivered.

Siddaramaiah instructed the officers to take up and implement permanent relief measures in flood-affected villages. He directed them to take steps for immediate settlement of compensation as per State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms for those whose houses and crops were damaged due to the rains.

The state has received seven per cent more rainfall this monsoon season, and 225 waterlogged villages have been identified by 1,247 gram panchayats, he said. He also directed that 70 Indira Canteens be set up in Bengaluru.