Tue Apr 01 16:36:16 UTC 2025: ## Karnataka MLA Accuses State Government of Blocking BPL Cards to Curb Guarantee Scheme Costs
**Mangaluru, April 1, 2025** – Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyas Kamath has accused the Karnataka state government of deliberately halting the issuance of Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards for the past 23 months to reduce spending on government guarantee schemes.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Mr. Kamath stated that while the BJP government had opened applications for BPL cards in November 2022, the current Siddaramaiah government closed this option in May 2023. This has left approximately 2,000 people in Dakshina Kannada district awaiting BPL cards. He alleges the government’s inaction is motivated by a desire to avoid increased financial burdens associated with the guarantee schemes. The delay, he said, forces individuals to pay for healthcare under the Ayushman Bharath Arogya Karnataka scheme, designed for those above the poverty line.
Mr. Kamath further criticized the government for several other policies, including a ₹9 increase in milk prices over the last 20 months without releasing ₹650 crore in promised support prices for milk producers; a hike in electricity fixed charges from ₹120 to ₹145 per unit, plus an additional ₹0.36 per unit for Escom employee pensions; and withholding rice supplies from ration shops despite adequate central government stock. He also condemned the government’s delay in implementing the third phase of Mangaluru fishing harbor development, a ₹49.5 crore project, despite repeated National Green Tribunal directives.
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