‘Government has deliberately closed issuance of BPL cards for two years’

‘Government has deliberately closed issuance of BPL cards for two years’

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, April 2, 2025: In order to reduce the outgo on guarantee schemes, the State government is deliberately not issuing fresh Below Poverty Line (BPL) for the last 23 months, alleged Mangaluru city South MLA D. Vedavyas Kamath in Mangaluru on Tuesday.

Talking to reporters here, Mr. Kamath said it was the BJP government that provided option for people to apply for BPL card in November 2022. Since the Siddaramaiah government came to power in May 2023, this option has been closed. As many as 2,000 people are waiting for BPL cards in Dakshina Kannada. “The government does not want to open it as they fear increase in the quantum of money for implementing the guarantee schemes,” he said. With failure to get BPL cards, people are forced to pay for treatment as Above Poverty Line beneficiary under Ayushman Bharath Arogya Karnataka scheme.

The MLA said the State government has increased milk price by ₹9 in the last 20 months. While the government claims that the rate has been raised to benefit farmers, it is irony that the government has not released ₹650 crore as support price for milk producing farmers.

The government has further burdened people by increasing the fixed charge for power from ₹120 to ₹145 per unit. It has also allowed Escoms to collect ₹0.36 paise per unit towards pension and gratuity of Escom personnel.

Despite having stock of rice provided by the Central government, the State government was not supplying it and forcing ration shops to display ‘no stock’ board.  The government is deliberately dragging its feet in implementing the third phase of Mangaluru fishing harbour development works at a cost of ₹49.5 crore. The government was not implementing it despite strictures passed by the National Green Tribunal three times, Mr. Kamath said.