The BPL card is an essential tool for accessing government welfare programs. Opposition parties have accused the Siddaramaiah government of targeting the poor, as the state reviews eligibility for welfare programs. But here’s what weeding out ineligible cards means.
Published Nov 18, 2024 | 6:03 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 18, 2024 | 6:03 PM
CM Siddaramaiah to hold finance and administration classes for legislators (siddaramaiah/Twitter)
Controversy has erupted in Karnataka following reports that the state’s Department of Food and Civil Supplies is set to ‘cancel’ Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards of over 10 lakh ineligible beneficiaries.
The announcement has sparked criticism from opposition parties, with both the BJP and JD(S) accusing the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government of targeting poor and marginalised sections of society.
Currently, Karnataka has more than 4.5 crore BPL cardholders, out of a total population of around 6.5 crore. The BPL card is an essential tool for accessing government welfare programs, such as the Gruha Lakshmi and Anna Bhagya Yojanas. Under the Anna Bhagya scheme, beneficiaries are provided with subsidised rice, while Gruha Lakshmi offers financial assistance to women from low-income households.
In response to the growing uproar, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, KH Muniyappa, sought to clarify the government’s position, emphasising that the intention is not to cancel BPL cards outright but to reclassify ineligible cardholders into the Above Poverty Line (APL) category.
They insisted that only individuals who no longer meet the eligibility criteria, such as those with stable financial backgrounds or those who pay income tax, would be moved to the APL list.
Minister Muniyappa, speaking to reporters, dismissed accusations that BPL cards were being “canceled.”
“No BPL or APL cards have been cancelled. The issue is being politicised. We are working to reclassify ineligible BPL cardholders and move them to the APL category,” he said.
He added that about 80 percent of Karnataka’s population currently holds BPL cards, a figure that far exceeds the national average, which is typically below 50 percent in other states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
Muniyappa stressed that APL cardholders would continue to receive the benefits allocated to them under existing welfare schemes. “The process is underway to identify and reclassify ineligible BPL cardholders,” he explained. “We are not canceling the cards, but ensuring that only eligible individuals benefit from these programs.”
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also weighed in on the issue, asserting that the claim of widespread cancellations was “incorrect.”
He clarified that the government is investigating cases of ineligible cardholders, with a focus on retrieving cards issued to individuals who do not meet the criteria. “No eligible beneficiaries will lose their entitlements,” he assured. “The department is verifying these cases, and only those found to be ineligible will have their cards revoked.”
The controversy is further complicated by the fact that several of the Congress government’s flagship schemes such as Anna Bhagya, Gruha Lakshmi, and Gruha Jyothi are linked to BPL card eligibility.
Siddaramaiah, who has also criticised the widespread issuance of BPL cards in the state, questioned whether individuals paying income tax or working in government jobs should hold such cards.
“This is an issue that requires review,” he stated, referring to the need for a more accurate assessment of poverty in the state.
Despite Karnataka’s status as one of India’s most economically advanced states accounting for nearly half of the country’s software exports and a significant share of foreign direct investment poverty remains a persistent issue.
The controversy has triggered a wider debate about the effectiveness of poverty alleviation programs and the challenges of accurately identifying the economically disadvantaged.
Critics argue that the high number of BPL cardholders could be a reflection of administrative inefficiency, with some individuals who are financially stable still receiving benefits intended for the poor.
In response to these concerns, the Karnataka government set up an Administrative Reforms Commission, headed by senior Congress leader R.V. Deshpande, in June to review the number of BPL cardholders and identify ineligible recipients.
Deshpande pointed out that it is “hard to believe” that 75-80 percent of the state’s population holds BPL cards, especially in a progressive state like Karnataka.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Mahesh M Goudar)
