Mangaluru: Within few days of taking responsibility of Food and Civil Supplies, Minister U T Khader has said that system will be put in place to ensure that process of obtaining the ration cards becomes smooth, swift and hassle-free.

In a news conference held on Friday, Khader said that the process of simplifying the ration card issuing process is his priority and he has already started working on these lines.

The Minister said that the department is also contemplating on handing over ration card issuing powers to the Gram Panchayats as the identification of genuine applicants can be made easier with the same. He said that the same is being mooted in view of not making injustice to genuine card holders while weeding out ineligible BPL card holders from the existing list.

“With the aim of handpicking bogus BPL card holders, the department will start a website where people can inform about bogus card holders and also about hoarding of stocks. The names of the informers would be kept confidential and a cash reward of Rs 400 would be given to them for passing on correct message,” he said adding that there are plans to include cancer patients and persons suffering from renal problems under BPL listing.

He pointed that as many as 10 lac applications have been kept in pendency and he has set a deadline of three months to clear the same. He said that he was happy to work as the Minister of Food and Civil Supplies because like Health, even this is one department which directly involves working with the people.