Date:13/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/13/stories/2008071351150300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

New white cards to be issued

Staff Reporter

Five permanent DPL centres being set up

Mobile iris cameras to screen beneficiaries
Red gram to be sold through ration shops from July 14

Kakinada: The issue of white ration cards to pink card holders who comply with the new below poverty line (BPL) guidelines will commence on August 1. Out of 2.45 lakh existing pink card holders, 1.53 lakh were found to be in the new income limits (Rs 75,000 in urban areas and Rs 60,000 in villages). They can obtain the white cards after filing declarations at the respective tahsildar offices from July 14 to 24, according to Joint Collector GSRKR Vijay Kumar.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Mr. Vijay Kumar said permanent designated photo lamination (DPL) centres were being set up at five revenue division headquarters. Besides, mobile iris cameras would visit the mandals to screen the applicants. The process of issuing white cards would commence in the municipalities and it would be expanded later to rural areas.

Door-to-door visits

Teams of the Food and Civil Supplies Department would simultaneously make door–to– door verification of the beneficiaries thereafter to stop the supply of ration to the ineligible and fake beneficiaries. Information about bogus cards could be conveyed through phone number 0884-2378461. Steps were taken to issue white cards to all couples within the families to extend the benefit of PDS to more people subject to the eligibility criteria.

The Joint Collector said red gram would be sold through ration shops to white card holders (one kilo each) from July 14 at Rs 30 a kilo. Palm oil would also be sold to white card holders from a later date at Rs 45 per kilo. Sale of palm oil through PDS was scheduled to be launched at the nation level.

District Revenue Officer M Mohan Raju was present.