Mangaluru : The much-awaited online facility to get ration cards at the tap your mobile phones will be a reality soon. Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader told reporters here on Thursday that keeping up with technology, the Food and Civil Services Department will launch the online facility to obtain ration cards (dial its toll free number 1614). The beneficiaries can either add their names, delete their names or upgrade — depending on their requirements by using their Aadhaar numbers, he added.

The system is designed on the lines of online booking for monthly refill of cylinders, Khader said. In case of any complaints, the card holders may enter the particular extension number where the complaints will directly reach the food inspectors. The inspectors will have to redress the grievances within the mandatory period of one week. If the complaint is not redressed at local level, it will be referred to higher authorities. If the complaint is genuine, the fair price shop owner should pay for the expenditure incurred by the card holder in redressing his woes, he said.

To a question on new cards for BPL families, the minister said 19,500 applications have been received in the district. Among them, 4,500 cards are verified, while the data entry of 600 cards has been completed. The department had withdrawn the distribution of sugar and edible oil for BPL card holders, but it will resume the supply across the state within this month, he said.

Khader said while sugar and sunflower oil will be distributed in Dakshina Kannada district, sugar and palm oil will be distributed in neighbouring Udupi district through fair price shops.

The essential commodities in adequate quantity have been stocked in various godowns across the state to meet the purpose, said Khader, answering a question over the available goods.

To clear any doubts over the shelf life of the oil, the minister said the oil has been tested at the central laboratory in Bengaluru.

Following complaints, the department had stopped distribution of edible oil, sugar and salt two months ago. Now, the stock will be emptied, the minister said.