Date:23/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/23/stories/2006092301740300.htm

Karnataka - Bidar

Long queues for ration cards

Staff Correspondent

Road to Deputy Commissioner's office blocked for some time

Bidar: There seems to be some confusion regarding the distribution of ration cards to the poor in Bidar district. People are complaining that there are far more poor people in the district than the Government's claims. District administration officials say that the people have mistaken the definition of the term poverty line.

Tahsildar offices in all the five taluks in Bidar witnessed a rush as people seeking ration cards formed long queues in front of them on Wednesday. The road to the Deputy Commissioner's office and the district court, which lies next to the Tahsildar's office, was blocked for some time. Traffic police had to be called to the spot to control the crowd. Similar situations were reported from Aurad, Bhalki, Humnabad and Basava Kalyan.

There are two opinions about the rush. People say the Government's survey identifying poor families was faulty and many poor families have been left out of it. "My family has not got a card while farmers richer than me have got," said Naganna Malage of Dhupat Mahagaon. He was waiting for a card in front of the Tahsildar office in Aurad.

Maruti Vithoba and others of Alur K said the Government had taken away their below poverty line card and given them an above poverty line card.

Officials say that many people who were in the above poverty line category and therefore not eligible to get ration cards, were claiming to be poor and seeking cards, pushing the line longer than it should be.

The Government distributes four types of cards; Annapurna, for destitute people, Antyodaya Anna for the poorest of the poor, and cards for those living below the poverty line and for those living above the poverty line. The eligibility criteria are: any family earning less than Rs .17,000 per year is a below poverty line family. Those earning more are considered above poverty line families. And in case of the Annapurna and the Antyodaya Anna cards, the gram sabhas and the ward sabhas should decide who deserve them, according to sources.

However, most people do not understand these regulations and demand cards meant for those living below poverty line. This not only puts an additional burden on the exchequer but also defeats the purpose of having a social security scheme such as the public distribution system, officials say.