Government temporarily suspends process of cancelling BPL ration cards, says Minister

The government has temporarily suspended the process of cancelling ration cards of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Rizwan Arshad said.

Speaking to press persons in Udupi on Saturday, he said that the Union government has instructed the State government to cancel 7.59 lakh BPL cards. Accordingly, approximately four lakh cards have already been cancelled. “However, I have instructed the department to temporarily stop this process. Instructions have been given not to cancel any more cards for now. Cancellation of approximately 3.5 lakh cards has been temporarily stopped,” he said.

The Minister said that the process of cancelling the remaining 3.5 lakh cards would be reviewed, and future action would be taken after discussing the matter at the government level.

He said the KYC needed to be done again for about 2.59 crore ration cards in the State, as per the instructions of the Union government. The last KYC was done five years ago.

“This process (KYC) will provide accurate information regarding the deceased, those above the poverty line, and those who do not need ration cards. The KYC should be done by September 31, 2026,” Mr. Arshad said.

The matter of issuing new BPL cards would be discussed at the government level, the Minister said.

Mr. Arshad said he would examine whether boiled rice can be supplied to ration card holders in the coastal belt. “Changes have been made in the ration system according to the respective areas. I will examine whether “kuchalakki” (boiled rice) can be supplied in the coastal area as well,” the Minister said.