Karnataka govt hints at increasing PHH ration card income limit
Bengaluru (PTI) The Karnataka government on Thursday indicated that it may hike the family income limit to obtain a Priority Households (PHH) ration card, considering rising costs.
Karnataka Health & Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao gave this indication in the Legislative Assembly, while replying to a question on behalf of Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa. He was responding to a question by senior BJP MLA C N Ashwath Narayan, during question hour.
"The current family annual income limit of Rs 1.20 lakh was fixed in 2017, it should certainly be accepted that the amount is less. From 2017, we are now in 2026. There is a need to revise this. It must be re-examined," said Rao, who previously served as Food and Civil Supplies Minister.
Noting that the Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission, headed by senior Congress MLA R V Deshpande, has recommended increasing the income limit to Rs 3 lakh, he said, "The department will look into this."
Raising the issue, Narayan stressed the need for higher income limits as the cost of living in Bengaluru had risen.
Replying to Narayan's statement that 50 per cent of the urban population should get PHH or Antyodaya cards, citing the Food Security Act, the minister said the act meant for the country as a whole, while it varies for states.
Karnataka has 1.24 crore households with PHH ration cards, Rao said. "The Centre has identified 1.09 crore eligible families in Karnataka. But the state has exceeded this by 15.8 lakh families. In some rural areas, 95 per cent of the population is covered."
He also highlighted cases where ineligible people have obtained the card.
"There is demand for this card as it is considered the basis for obtaining other benefits like medical and other things. They don't want it for obtaining ration, but for other benefits," he said.
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Himachal: 3 tourists dead, 10 injured as tempo falls into gorge in Kullu
Manali (HP) (PTI): Three tourists died while 10 others suffered serious injuries when their tourist tempo traveller skidded off the road and fell into a gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district on Saturday night, police said.
According to the District Disaster Management Authority, about 20 people were on board, and the vehicle was returning from Jalori Pass.
Preliminary reports suggest that the tourist vehicle skidded off the road due to slippery conditions created by incessant rains while descending toward Bhuntar on the 15 km stretch.
As many as 10 tourists have been rescued, and the condition of one of them is critical. Three tourists died on the spot.
Police, fire service personnel, and local administration are jointly conducting rescue operations.
The tourists were staying in a hotel in Jhibi, about 10 km away from Banjar town, where the accident occurred.
The injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals, officials said.
Further details are awaited.
