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'Padithara Khathi', Karnataka government's ambitious food security scheme that ensures delivery of foodgrains at fair price shops on specific dates under the public distribution system (PDS) has been rolled out in the state.
The scheme was launched in Mysore with the first such distribution at the Chama-rajapuram Consumers' Co-operative Society on February 1 by Krishnaraja MLA MK Somashekar in presence of Food and Civil Supplies Department Commissioner Harsh Gupta, Additional Commissioner Manoj Kumar and Narasimharaja MLA and former Minister Tanveer Sait.
Under the scheme, below poverty line (BPL) cardholders can obtain their quota of foodgrains from ration shops any day between the first and tenth day of each month. Shops have to be kept open from 8 am to 8 pm with one hour lunch break from 1 pm and 2 pm.
After the tenth day of the month, the shops can return to original timings of 8 am to noon and 4 pm to 8 pm when those who have not drawn their ration on the first ten days can obtain their quota.
Gupta said the scheme initially covered rice and sugar. The department had received 1967 complaints relating to misuse of foodgrains allotted to FP shops and 71 cases were booked, besides seizing trucks during raids on godowns.
Deputy Director K Rameswarappa said ration shop owners had to make the foodgrains available to cardholders at the rates and quantity notified by the Government or face action under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
