Bengaluru: The food and civil supplies department has decided to distribute coupons for below poverty line (BPL) cardholders once in three months, according to Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader.

Speaking to media persons here, Minister Khader said the initiative to supply coupons once in three months would avoid BPL cardholders wasting time and run pillar to post to avail coupons every month to get food grains from fair price shops in the state. “We have introduced the system to avail coupons through mobile phones from this month. One has to dial 161 and follow the instructions to get the coupon number on the mobile phone,’’ Minister Khader said.

Rice for wheat

The minister said the food and civil supplies department would arrange to supply rice for those BPL cardholders who want rice instead of wheat from next month. “There is a demand from many BPL cardholders to supply rice instead of wheat. The food and civil supplies department will supply same quantity of rice equal to the quantity of wheat to those BPL card holders do not want wheat. There will be no change as far as the supply of ragi is concerned,’’ the minister said.

The minister said the process is on to enable the applicants to submit applications for ration cards online. “It will be introduced in 45 days. The process of floating tenders inviting bidders to supply tur dal is in progress,’’ the minister said.