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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Karnataka HC quashes BJP's defamation case against Rahul Gandhi
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday quashed the defamation proceedings initiated by the BJP against top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
The case was filed in 2023, when BJP was in power in Karnataka, following a "corruption rate card" published by the then opposition Congress to claim large scale irregularities prevailing in the state under the saffron party's rule.
Along with Gandhi, now Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, the BJP had accused the then Karnataka LoP Siddaramaiah and Congress state president D K Shivakumar.
Presently Siddaramaiah is the Chief Minister and Shivakumar is his deputy.
Challenging the defamation case, Gandhi had approached the High Court stating that the continuation of the case would be an abuse of law.
The bench of Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav allowed the petition.
The complainant said that Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had conspired together to defame the BJP government and made baseless allegation and insinuation.
