Hubballi (DH) : Food & Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader has stated that the new system of applying online for public distribution system (PDS) cards would be implemented probably in January, as the entire process is being streamlined, and the process of issuing of PDS cards would be brought under 'Sakala' scheme for the first time in the country.
After chairing a progress review meeting of the Food & Civil Supplies Department here on Wednesday, he told media persons that BPL and APL cards would be issued through speed post in 15 to 30 days of applying online, under 'Sakala'.
For APL cards, applicants would be able to get the temporary card printed from the website itself, and the card would be sent through post within 30 days, after verification. Criteria to issue BPL and APL cards would also be simplified.
Government employees, those who pay income tax, those who have house of 1,000 square feet size in cities and 1,200 square feet in towns, those who consume above 150 units of electricity per month, and those having private four-wheeler would not be eligible for BPL cards. Instead of demanding more documents, more focus would be on Aadhaar cards, the minister explained.
In addition, arrangements would be made to receive and verify applications for PDS cards at local bodies also, for which co-operation of Urban Development Department and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Department has been sought. Then, people need not visit Food & Civil Supply Department office for this purpose, and can approach their local body, he said.
Bogus cards
PDS cards are being linked with Aadhaar number to weed out bogus cards. Due to this, while eight lakh cards have been cancelled so far saving 40 lakh metric tonnes of food grains, Mr Khader said.
New cards are not being issued since last six months as part of the process to streamline the system. More than 10 lakh applications are pending in the State, and they would be dealt with after the new system is introduced. Cancelling all bogus cards would be completed by this month end, he noted.
Weighing machines
The government itself would install weighing machines in front of around 600 super-markets and hyper-markets across the State, so that people can check whether they purchase the materials in correct quantity. If errors are there, they can lodge complaint with the consumer helpline (1967), Mr Khader said.
People need not worry about the colour of fortified salt with iron content being supplied. Suitable tests have been conducted at CFTRI in Mysuru, while samples from districts are also being sent, he clarified.
The department has a total of 605 vacant posts, out of which 147 SDA and FDA posts are being filled up through the KPSC. To fill up other posts also, the KPSC would be recommended to conduct the recruitment process, he added.