Biometric ration cards for BPL families

The Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs is taking up the issual of photo-biometric ration cards after on-the-spot assessment of the economic status and other details of people in urban parts of Mysore district.

Those who have applied online for ration cards by mentioning the RR number of their meter connections of power installations must obtain an income certificate from the local tahsildar. However, this will not be applicable to those who have not given their RR numbers as spot verification has already been done by the department inspectors with regards to their applications.

The computer network of the department will send a security number to the mobiles of those who have applied for BPL (below powerty line) ration cards. They should go to the photo-biometric centre in their area, submit the annual income certificate obtained from the Tahsildar, give the security number sent to them, and photo and fingerprint biometric identity of all those in their family who are above 12 years of age.

The department has set up 83 photo centres for the purpose in the district. Mysore taluk has the maximum number of 54 centres, followed by seven in T Narasipur, five each in H D Kote, K R Nagar and Periyapatna, four in Hunsur and three in Nanjangud taluk.

It has set up 1,092 photo centres in the districts across the State, maximum being in Belgaum with 107 and in Bangalore 73. The lowest numbers are in Udupi with four, followed by eight each in Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Central and Bangalore Rural.

Biometric photo centres have been opened in the respective taluk offices also. Soon after the message is received on mobile, the ration card applications should contact the respective office in their area and obtain the biometric ration card by paying Rs 20 and giving biometric fingerprint identity, according to the Department.

Applications of those who have applied online through the gram panchayats in rural parts are being approved for photo and biometric by the local Food Shirasthedar or Food Inspector. The computer network will send a SMS to the applicant’s mobile after which he must go the gram panchayat to give photo and fingerprint biometric identity and payment of Rs 20. Just as the urban applicants, they too can obtain the new ration cards once they receive a message to this effect on their mobile. To know the position of their application, rural applicants can contact local taluk office or the gram panchayat.