New photo ration cards in Kerala

in

A programme to distribute laminated photo ration cards to more than 70 lakh households in Kerala got underway on Thursday with Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan being photographed for the purpose at a function held at the secretariat here.

Speaking at the function, state Food and Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran said the process of distribution of new cards was expected to be completed in next three months. The photo of the head of the family would be affixed in the new ration card with family details.

The card could be used as an Identity Card for other purposes. The on-going survey to identify below poverty line (BPL) and above poverty line (APL) families would be completed soon, he said. As per the present list there were 50 lakh APL and 20 lakh BPL card holders in the state. Issue of new ration cards had been undertaken after a gap of five years, he said adding Rs.15 would be charged for the new ration card.