The government has recently tightened some rules regarding BPL cards. The government’s aim is to ensure that only eligible families receive ration and welfare benefits. Therefore, the government has made some updates for BPL cardholders.
The updated guidelines only include adding new members, deleting existing members and amending the ration card.
Now, what is confusing for some is how to add new members to the BPL card. This confusion is faced by those who are newly married, adding their wife’s name, or adding the name of their child. This article is for them.
Documents required to add new members:
Now, if you want to add your family members to the ration card, you need the right documents for it. Otherwise, your application will be rejected. So, know what documents are required here first.
For children: Caste certificate and income certificate are required for children above 6 years of age. Birth certificate is mandatory for children below 6 years of age.
Additional documents: Copy of Aadhaar card of parents and copy of existing BPL ration card.
Officials will only add children to the ration card after verifying the original documents.
Documents required for married couples:
Newly married couples will now have to submit a marriage registration certificate to add the wife’s name to their ration card. To add the wife’s name to the new ration card, the name must first be removed from the previous ration card. And a deletion certificate must be submitted from the old card.
Other Amendments:
Apart from adding new members to the BPL card, certain amendments or updates can also be made:
- Name correction
- Photo update
- Address change
- Member deletion
- Ration store change
- Change of household head
Ways to Apply:
Applications can be submitted through these channels:
Bangalore One Centres
Authorised Cyber Centres
Official website of the Department of Food and Civil Supplies
A copy of the original documents should also be taken along with the application. Applications will be rejected if the original documents are not available at the time of verification.
Important information you need to know is that new BPL cards are not being issued at present. The process is limited to adding new members, deleting existing members, and making corrections. Applications without documentation will not be considered.
The objective of these rules is to improve transparency, accuracy and fairness in the ration system. By making caste, income, birth and marriage certificates mandatory, only eligible families get subsidised food grains and welfare benefits. These rules will also help in weeding out fake cards.
