UT Khader mulls extending BPL card facility to cancer, dialysis patients

Bengaluru, Jun 30: The Food and Civil Supplies department is contemplating extending the BPL card facility to cancer patients and those undergoing dialysis even if they don't fall under the poor category.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader on Wednesday told reporters that the department would place such a proposal before the government shortly.

He said cancer patients and those requiring dialysis face a heavy financial burden, and if they wish to obtain a BPL card, they could do so and get covered under the Vajpayee Arogyashree Scheme.

Khader also said the department would launch online facilities for obtaining APL cards in a day or two.

Here, any new applicant who wants to obtain an APL card can log into the department website and fill in the requisite details, including the Aadhaar number, and take out a printout.

The applicant will receive a list of fair price shops in the vicinity of his residence, where he can go and purchase rations by showing the ration card printout. APL card holders can buy 5 kg of rice at Rs 15 a kg and 5 kg of wheat at Rs 10 a kg. The online facility will however be strictly restricted to APL card holders. He said that there are 1.36 crore card holders in the state.

The department is also yet to dispose of 10 lakh pending applications, and will complete them in the next three months, he added.

The department is also planning to simplify the application process. It wants to withdraw 10 to 12 conditions, out of 14, including the submission of RR number.

Khader said the coupon system which has been introduced for kerosene, would also be extended to foodgrains in the next two to three months.