BPL cardholders to benefit from Karnataka Anila Bhagya Scheme 2017
Mangaluru: “Related to the priority and non-priority cards the criteria have been reduced. The first criteria for the BPL card was the electricity bill or consumption of 150 units which has now been withdrawn. The central government under the Ujjwal scheme has assured to provide a tube and connector without any deposit. So the state government has come forward to provide a gas stove. Because of the discrimination of the Central government, in Karnataka, the Ujjwal scheme has not been implemented. Our CM has written a number of letters to provide the benefits of the Ujjwal scheme to Karnataka state but there is no response from the central government. So the State government will implement the Karnataka Anila Bhagya scheme very soon. BPL card holders who do not have the gas connection will get the gas connection”, said the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies U T Khader in a press meet held at the Circuit House here on June 1.
Addressing the mediapersons U T Khader said, “Those who have been selected for the Ujjwal scheme are waiting from the past three years to get gas connection. They have been deprived of the gas connection. Since under the Ujjwal scheme, the central government does not provide gas stove to the beneficiaries, the state government has agreed to provide the gas stove. But so far the central government has not provided gas connection to any of the selected persons. We have now decided to drop the Ujjwal scheme and the state Government itself will provide the gas connection and stove to the beneficiaries. BPL card holders who have selected for the Ujjwal scheme will also get the gas connection under CM’s Anila Bhagya Scheme”.
When asked if he will accept the Home Minister post if given, Khader said, “I do not want to be the Home Minister. It is the decision of the Chief Minister and we welcome his decision”.
When asked about the politics in providing compensation to Endosulfan victims, Khader said, “We did not play any politics. The former government during their time released a sum of Rs 5 crore and distributed it only to some victims which is not fair. Many of the endosulfan victims who are very much in need did not get any financial help from the government and they are now facing problems. We have identified the Endosulfan victims and every month the government is providing financial support to them. We have distributed health cards to the victims so that they can get treatment in 11 hospitals in the district. Very soon with the help of self-help groups, we will start a rehabilitation center in Ujire for the Endosulfan victims.”