The state government has decided to supply monthly rations of food grains and kerosene through Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) under the public distribution system. 

Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader told reporters on Monday that the new system will be introduced in a phased manner. 

"The beneficiaries will have to register themselves dialling a toll free number 1614. A coupon number will be generated and sent to them every month. The food grains will be supplied on furnishing the coupon number at fair price shops. The owners of the shops will also be given an incentive for using IVRS,” he explained.

"Starting August 1, printed coupons will be made mandatory for PDS beneficiaries in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits. The coupon system for the supply of kerosene which has been already introduced, has been successful in preventing misuse of highly-subsidised kerosene meant for the poor. With this, close to 2.60 lakh ineligible households have been removed from the list of beneficiaries. Now the coupon system will be soon replaced with the IVRS,” he said.

Khader said the department has decided to increase commission paid to the fair price shop owners. 

"A shop owner will get Rs 100 as commission for supplying a quintal of food grains to the beneficiaries. Also the department will reallocate ration cards to all 20,000 shops in the state. A shop in rural area will have 500 cards, a shop in urban area will have 800 cards and 100 cards will be allocated to each of those located in the forest area,” the minister added.
He said the department will supply fortified salt to BPL card holders soon.