How many BPL cards per department, asks RTI Forum

24 Feb,Gangtok: A body of Right to Information (Act) Sikkim RTI Forum has expressed in the interest for the general public convenience to know the usage of Below Poverty Line BPL card for basic facility it can avail for people. In a written RTI the applicant, DK Chettri President of the Forum asked for a query hinting ‘Will the BPL Card issued by the Food & Civil Supplies’ be an authentic mean to get a Medical benefits from Health Department ? As per the press release served by the forum the reply they received was unsatisfying.

According to the departments RTI reply the BPL Card availed through F&CS is not a mandatory for availing a Medical benefit, the BPL card for that is served by the DESME, he writes.

The forum has queried following question

1. Why doesn’t the BPL card served by Food Dept be applicable for Health matter?

2. In what context does the Dept weigh its BPL served?

3. Do people needs to apply for different types of BPL cards from all departments?

4. Is the discrepancy not related to improper coordination between the government agencies?

5. Is BPL card only for uplifting rice grains?

6. Has there been a sound notification to all public about the dissimilarity in card?

The above mentioned question has been put forward by the SRTI Forum President Mr. Chettri with respect to the RTI reply served by Food Department.