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B’lore to be free from kerosene shortly: Minister

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dinesh-gundu-raoUdupi, Aug 18, 2013: ‘Decision on hike in commission to ration shop owners will be taken after by-poll’

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Dinesh Gundu Rao has said that the State government proposes to make Bangalore a kerosene-free city by providing domestic LPG connections to all households, particularly BPL card holders.

Speaking to mediapersons after chairing a meeting on Sunday, he said that bio metric system will be introduced to check loopholes in the distribution of food grains through PDS. Bio metric machines have already been installed in Tumkur, Mysore, Gulbarga and Hubli-Dharwad. It will be extended to Mangalore, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts.

The government is contemplating on offering food grains suitable to the food culture of the region under ”Anna Bhagya” scheme. The government is deliberating over distributing jowar to the people in North Karnataka. Similarly the people in Dakshina Kannada district will be given boiled rice in the days to come.

Besides, plans have been chalked out to offer around three to four kg of wheat as a component cereal along with rice. There is also demand for Ragi in Mandya and Mysore. The government intends to purchase Ragi directly from the farmers in the process of
supporting the farmers. However, everything will be finalised in the due course of time, he said.

“The government is all set to take measures to curtail illegal ity in the public distribution system. Measures have been taken to ensure issue of BPL cards to the genuine beneficiaries,” he said. The labourers who load and unload the food grains are paid Rs 6 per bag. A proposal is being sent to the government to revise the amount.

The government is planning to enhance the commission offered to PDS shop owners. The decision pertaining to the commission will be taken after the Lok Sabha by-polls, he said.

The Minister said that food inspectors will be directed to visit at least one PDS shop every month and verify the stock in the shop. He said the renewal of the existing ration cards will be taken up in another two months.

The department has directed all the Gram Panchayats to utilise funds collected on the application for ration cards for the maintenance of the GPs. A sum of Rs 50 is collected from the applicant.

Measures have also been taken to provide a computer and scanner to all GPs in the state. Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Jayaprakash Hegde has released Rs 50 lakh for offering computer and scanner to all GPs in Udupi and Chikmagalur districts.

The minister said that Udupi district has received 16939 applications seeking ration cards. Of which, 4218 cards have already been issued and 1398 cards are ready for distribution.

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