KH Muniyappa Says Karnataka Will Raise BPL Card Income Eligibility Limit
Karnataka proposes higher income limit for BPL eligibility.
The Karnataka government is planning to increase the annual income eligibility limit for Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards from ₹1.20 lakh to ₹3 lakh, Food and Civil Supplies Minister KH Muniyappa said on Friday. The proposed revision follows recommendations from the Administrative Reforms Commission and is aimed at ensuring that more deserving families can access benefits under government welfare schemes.
Speaking after a review meeting of the State Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority along with Chairman HM Revanna, Muniyappa said the tender process for the ₹6,000-crore Indira Kit scheme is nearing completion. Distribution of the kits is expected to begin within the next two months. Each kit is planned to include essential commodities such as 5 kg of rice, 1 kg each of tur dal, moong dal, sugar, and salt, along with one litre of cooking oil.
The minister said the government is currently providing 10 kg of rice to 4.42 crore beneficiaries under the Anna Bhagya scheme as part of its efforts to make Karnataka a hunger-free state. He also clarified that ration card verification will not result in mass cancellations, stating that only ineligible BPL cards will be shifted to the Above Poverty Line (APL) category according to Union government guidelines.
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To improve transparency and prevent the diversion of food grains, the department has introduced several monitoring measures. Muniyappa said CCTV cameras have been installed at government warehouses, GPS tracking systems have been introduced for vehicles transporting food grains, and a command and control centre has been established to oversee operations. The department has also deployed 33 additional inspection vehicles to monitor weights and measures.
The minister informed that the department has registered 1,497 FIRs and seized Public Distribution System (PDS) food grains worth ₹50 crore as part of action against irregularities. He added that the government has directed 20,259 fair price shops across the state to remain open from 6 am to 10 pm to improve accessibility for beneficiaries.
Muniyappa said citizens can report violations through the helpline number 1967, while the government is also considering allowing beneficiaries to complete e-KYC verification through mobile phones for greater convenience. He further stated that under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme, Karnataka has procured 5.60 lakh tonnes of ragi for distribution among beneficiaries, highlighting continued efforts to strengthen food security programmes in the state.
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