In response to the high demand from beneficiaries in Ballari and Vijayanagara, the Karnataka government has decided to extend the opportunity for altering Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards in some specific districts. This extension ensures that cardholders in several districts including Ballari and Vijayanagara can leverage the benefits of the ‘Gruha Lakshmi’ scheme, which is gaining increased prominence following the Congress government’s ascent to power in the state.
The BPL card in Karnataka plays a pivotal role in accessing important freebie schemes such as ‘Anna Bhagya’ and ‘Gruha Lakshmi.’ The Food and Civil Supplies Department had initially authorized BPL cardholders to make changes and add new names to their cards, and this facility has now been extended by three more days due to popular demand in these districts.
For districts such as Ballari, Bidar, Chikkaballapura, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Kalaburagi, Kolar, Koppal, Raichur, Ramanagara, Shivamogga, Tumakuru, Yadgir, and Vijayanagara, the window for applying for card modifications will be open from October 19 to 21.
During these dates, existing BPL cardholders in these districts can visit Karnataka One and Garama One centers between 10 am and 7 pm to make the necessary changes, backed by the required supporting documents. Once an application is submitted, it undergoes a review process, and upon approval, a fresh card is issued.
The government reports that 1.12 crore women have already benefited from the Gruha Lakshmi scheme. With the extension provided in Ballari and Vijayanagara, it is expected that these numbers will see a slight increase. (eom)