Bangalore: The new procedure for ration card applications through SMS does not seem to be people friendly. This initiative, which was taken up to ease the problems faced by the public, has now created complications.Specically for the people living in urban slums in Bangalore.

A survey conducted by the Urban Health Project Team from the Institute of Public Health (IPH) at K.G. Halli, revealed that the procedure has no redeeming features. The survey had a sample of 132 households at the Bharatmata slum area in KG Halli, where it found that 59% of the households do not have ration cards and 37% do not have mobile phones.

About 77% of the families are illiterate and find it difficult to apply. Besides, even the handful of families that own a mobile phone, 76% said that they cannot read or write. What’s more, 86% are not even aware of the new procedure.

The new procedure says aspirants must send an SMS with the name of the applicant to 9212357123 from his or her mobile. They will receive a token number and security code in return. Dr Triveni B.S., Faculty, IPH. Said, “Central and state health protection/health insurance schemes target BPL families and due to the current ration card application procedure, the poorest of the poor do not see the benefits of the scheme.”

The aspirant must also find a valid ration card to act as his or  her introducer, which is out of the question for most urban slum dwellers, who are daily wage labourers. 36 year old Tabusum, from K.G. Halli, said, “Nobody in my family has a ration card or a mobile phone and don’t know the application procedure.”

Deputy Director, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Bangalore Urban, the Assistant Programmer said that the SMS system was the only option for people in urban area to apply for the ration card. There is no other way and we have not received any complaints, she added.