Mangaluru: A total of 470 Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards registered in the Dakshina Kannada district were found to be ineligible from August to October.
The revelation was made after the Department of Food, Civil Supplies, and Affairs started a massive drive to check the eligibility of BPL ration card holders in the DK district.
A total of 53 ration cards were found to be ineligible when the department initiated the verification drive in the month of August. The number of ineligible BPL cards increased to 304 in the month of September. Meanwhile, 113 ineligible BPL cards were surrendered by families till October 9.
According to sources from the department, over 11 government employees and a corporate-sector employee had obtained BPL cards by obfuscating facts.
Meanwhile, around 42 cardholders also owned cars, thereby violating the stipulated guidelines. The massive raid was undertaken by officials also found that many families hold two ration cards which is a misuse of the provision.
According to the guidelines, government and corporate employees (along with those who own excess land or houses bigger than 1,000 sq ft, cars owners, and non-residents) are not eligible to obtain BPL cards. It is estimated that out of three lakh ration cards issued within the Dakshina Kannada district, nearly 700 are ineligible.
Assistant Director (in-charge) of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Sunanda warned that criminal cases will be filed against those who obtain ration cards by hiding facts. She further claimed that BPL cards are issued only to poor families as per the National Food Security Act.
