Only 649 of 79,815 applicants get ration cards in Mysuru

MYSURU: The Food and Civil Supplies Department issued just 649 ration cards as against 79,815 applications in the district last year.

Many applicants may not get rations card in the near future as the under-staffed department can, at the most, issue 2,000 cards a month as it takes time to verify the details of the applicants.

The lack of co-ordination between Civil Supplies and Revenue departments is hitting the people hard. This was evident at the Karnataka Development Programmes (KDP) review meeting when Food and Civil Supplies department assistant director disclosed that it was difficult to visit the houses of the applicants as each taluk has only one or two officials in the department. The bypolls held recently also hampered the process of issuing ration cards, he added.

He said the process has been delayed as the village accountants, who have the details of each and every family in hoblis on their fingertips, have passed a resolution that they would not do the work of any department other than Revenue department.

This has put ZP CEO Shivashankar, president Nayeema Sultana and standing committee chairmen in a tight spot.ZP Social Justice Standing Committee chairman Basanna said it is essential for the department to issue ration cards as they are used as address proof. He pressed for action against village accountants refusing to visit the households for verification.

A few members suggested that a private agency be roped in to expedite the process.Shivashankar said the Civil Supplies department must issue 10,000 ration cards in a month and complete the process in next eight months.