NRIs too can benefit from online application system for ration cards

Mangalore, January 1: People of Karnataka, including Non Resident Indians, who have families in Karnataka, can still apply for ration cards online through the website http://ahara.kar.nic.

The Department of Food and Civil Supplies in the State, in an attempt to streamline public distribution system and weed out bogus ration cards, had made arrangements for online submission of applications for new cards in November 2011.

The Department has already received 13.08 lakh online applications for new ration cards.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Shobha Karandlaje has said jurisdictional food inspectors would make spot visits to verify details provided by the applicants.

The minister also assured that the new cards would be issued to online applicants from February-end. The maximum number of applications received were from Bangalore. As many as 4.9 lakh families from the State capital have applied for ration cards.

The department has already cancelled 12 lakh bogus ration cards in urban areas and 40 lakh bogus cards are expected to be eliminated after verification of all new applications, she said.

Applications

Families in the urban areas, who do not have internet facilities can also avail of “online service” at taluk office or offices of the jurisdictional assistant director or deputy director of the department by paying a fee of Rs 10.

Those in rural areas need to furnish information through the computers of their jurisdictional Gram Panchayat offices. Submission of applications for new ration cards can only be made online. Printed or handwritten applications will not be accepted.

Families in possession of ration cards and which have submitted their electricity meter RR?number and their residential property tax number as sought by the department need not apply.