Mangaluru : The department of food, civil supplies and consumer affairs has started a massive drive to check the eligibility of below poverty line (BPL) ration card owners in Dakshina Kannada district.

While the department has found 53 BPL ration cards as ineligible in August, 304 such cases were unearthed in September. Meanwhile, 113 ineligible BPL cards were surrendered by the families till October 9. Interestingly, the statistics of October includes 11 government employees and a corporate sector employee, who also had obtained the BPL cards by hiding facts. Similarly, 42 persons, who owned cars, also had obtained BPL cards against rules. Officials have also found that many families in the district have been using two ration cards.

It is estimated that out of over three lakh ration cards in Dakshina Kannada district, nearly 700 are ineligible. In fact, as per rules, government staff, corporate employees, those who possess excess land holdings or houses bigger than 1,000 sqft, one who own car and non-residents are not eligible to obtain BPL cards. Officials also have been searching the data available in RTO offices using the Aadhaar number of BPL ration card holders to find whether they have registered private cars in their names.

The department will continue the drive to eliminate all ineligible ration cards in the district, said Sunanda, assistant director (in-charge), department of food, civil supplies and consumer affairs.

She told that criminal cases will be booked against those who obtained ration cards by hiding facts.

“The department has plans to impose penalty on those who have obtained ration cards illegally in the first phase. We will file criminal cases against them if they do not cooperate with us by surrendering the BPL cards obtained illegally and pay penalty. BPL cards are issued and food supplies are ensured to poor families as per the National Food Security Act. However, many have obtained BPL cards violating rules. Hence, a drive is being carried out by the department throughout the state,” she said.