A profound sense of dread has settled over Meenamma, a 60-year-old breast cancer patient living in Janatha Colony, West Bengaluru. Her worries escalated after several of her neighbors received unsettling notices: their Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards, crucial for their survival, were being revoked. The reason? Their sons’ incomes reportedly surpassed the official limit, an eligibility criterion that feels increasingly out of touch with reality.
Though Meenamma herself hasn’t yet received such a notice, the fear is palpable. She knows that if her card is cancelled, she would lose access to the vital medicines her BPL card currently provides, jeopardizing her health and well-being.
“My three sons moved out and live independently, yet their names remain tied to all my identification documents,” Meenamma shared with anguish. “This makes it appear as though I’m above the poverty line, but the truth is far from it. I’m terrified they’ll cancel my card, just as they did to my friends.” For those already notified, the concern extends to losing their monthly rations, a loss that promises to deepen their financial struggles.
On Wednesday, Meenamma joined over 50 other concerned citizens who converged at the Department of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs. Their mission: to submit a memorandum to the commissioner, collectively challenging the “unscientific” and potentially devastating methods being used in this card cancellation drive.
The memorandum sharply critiqued a significant flaw in the current process: the income thresholds for BPL eligibility were established way back in 2017. Since then, the cost of living and essential goods has soared dramatically. The petitioners rightly questioned how such an antiquated income limit could still be considered a fair measure of poverty today.
Beyond rations, BPL cards unlock a multitude of crucial benefits, from student scholarships to affordable treatment at government hospitals and access to life-saving medicines. The document warned that any unscientific or arbitrary cancellation would plunge vulnerable families into unimaginable hardship.
Several glaring examples of flawed implementation were highlighted. An Uber driver, for instance, had his BPL card revoked simply because he owned a four-wheeler – despite potentially low earnings. Many contract workers, despite earning around ₹15,000, faced cancellation because TDS deductions implied they were tax-payers and thus “above poverty.” This overlooks the harsh reality that these workers often endure months of unemployment, relying heavily on their BPL cards for basic provisions. Furthermore, the memorandum revealed that families unable to collect rations for two months due to store closures are now being unfairly categorized as above the poverty line.
Muniyamma, a 60-year-old with a heart condition from Haleguddadahalli, shared her predicament. “I used to be a ragpicker, and now my thumbprint isn’t recognized by the system,” she explained. “Because I haven’t been able to collect my rations for a few months, I fear they will cancel my card. What will I do then?” Her reliance on her BPL card for essential heart medication makes her situation particularly dire.
Govindamma, 57, echoed similar concerns, grappling with the same bureaucratic hurdles. Sagay Mary, 58, recounted being denied her ration just days prior, informed abruptly that her BPL card had already been cancelled.
In response, sources within the Consumer Affairs Department offered a contrasting view, stating that no BPL cards have been widely cancelled, with the exception of individuals found holding duplicate cards across different states. “Our current focus is solely on identifying and addressing duplicate cardholders,” a department source clarified. “Should anyone be mistakenly rejected, they are encouraged to lodge a complaint via the 1967 helpline for assistance.”
The department further explained that a comprehensive review of all cards is not underway; rather, their efforts are concentrated on a specific list of over 7 lakh “dubious” cards flagged by the central government. Individuals whose names have been incorrectly removed are advised to contact their local tahsildar to submit an application, which will then be reviewed for potential re-addition to the BPL list.