Bengaluru: Even as confusion continues over the eligibility criteria for BPL (Below Poverty Line)  and APL (Above Poverty Line)  cards, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies K.H. Muniyappa said that the BPL cards distributed to ineligible persons will be converted as APL cards.

Speaking to presspersons here yesterday, he said that large scale misuse of BPL cards has been found and as such, the Government has launched a drive to withdraw the cards issued to ineligible persons.

Pointing out that these BPL cards will be converted as APL cards, he said that the process of issuing new BPL cards to deserving population has begun.

“BPL cards have been issued to only 40 percent of the population in neighbouring States. But in Karnataka, BPL cards have been issued to 80 percent of the population, which means  a majority of BPL cards have gone to the undeserving. Ration facilities cannot be extended to illegal card holders, as the genuine sections of population will be deprived.  As such, the Government has launched a drive for identifying ineligible BPL cards and these card holders can get APL cards for getting sanctioned facilities. During the drive, it has been found that many BPL card holders were I-T payers. The  State Government is making efforts to cleanse ration card system,” he said.