Govt cracks down on fake BPL cards; 12,584 families served notices

NT Correspondent

 Bengaluru

 The food and civil supplies department claims that cases of fake below poverty line (BPL) cards are on the rise and people who don’t fall in this economic category are using it to avail various benefits.

 The government had introduced BPL cards to help the poor meet their day-today needs. The department said that people are using fake BPL cards to get free rice, wheat, millet, sugar, palm oil, and other items.

So far, the government has issued notices to a total of 12,584 families for using fake cards. It has also cancelled BPL and Antyodaya cards held by ineligible people.

 These two cards can help the beneficiaries avail the government housing facility, free health service, RTE seat and other government facilities that were available from the card were stopped. The government will file criminal charges against the accused.

“We have been asked to report people, if we find any fake BPL card. But it is very difficult for us to find any, and it’s mostly the government’s job to do it. But yes, they said that around 3 lakh fake ration cards have been found in the state. So, we are keeping an eye,” said Ramesh, who runs a fair price shop at Koramangala.

 As of now, 3,30,024 ration cards which were obtained by ineligible people across the state have been cancelled. In this, there are 21,679 Antyodaya and 3,08,345 BPL cards. Government officials have also stated that people can use these cards to get admission to private schools under the right to education scheme.

 Arunkumar, deputy director of coordination, Social Welfare Department, said, “Under the Right to Education Act (RTE), 25% of the seats in private schools are reserved for poor children. Preference is given to children of BPL cards or Antyodaya card holders. Many rich people submit fake documents to get enrolled in these prestigious school