CM directs cancellation of ineligible BPL Cards, stresses hassle-free benefits for eligible families
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has instructed officials to take strict measures to cancel ineligible Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards, ensuring that eligible families do not face any difficulties in accessing government benefits.
Speaking at a review meeting of the Department of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs held at his official residence ‘Krishna’, the Chief Minister said that no deserving beneficiary should be left out. “If anyone eligible for a BPL card has been missed, immediate steps must be taken to issue them a card,” he directed.
He informed that action has already been taken to cancel and reclassify 3,65,614 ration cards that were found to be ineligible.
The Chief Minister further instructed officials to submit a proposal for providing kits under the Anna Bhagya scheme, which would include rice along with nutritious grains and other essential items. He also directed that priority be given to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities while allotting new fair price shops.
To improve transparency, Siddaramaiah ordered that GPS trackers be installed on vehicles transporting food grains, and CCTV cameras be fixed in all warehouses across the state. He also emphasised the need to fill vacant posts in the Food and Civil Supplies Corporation without delay.
Highlighting new initiatives, Siddaramaiah said that for the first time, 0.29 lakh metric tonnes of minor millets have been procured. He added that under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme, procurement of food grains should be carried out in collaboration with Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Societies (PACS) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Food Minister K.H. Muniyappa and senior officials of the department were present at the meeting.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
