Smart ration cards from April, Food Minister confirms
Posted on: 03/Mar/2017 1:12:54 PM
R. Kamaraj, the food minister of Tamil Nadu confirmed the commitment the government shows in issuing smart ration cards, replacing the existing family cards from 1st April. Since the year 2006, these family cards have been under circulation. Every year, additional papers are being inserted.
Works carried out by the civil supplies department to verify Aadhar numbers was likely to get completed. Those who have not got Aadhar card still will be given time after April. However, distribution works will begin in April, affirmed Kamaraj while addressing a press meet.
There are total of 1.96 crore family card holders. The government is providing food grains at subsidized prices to all of them. A sum of Rs. 24,450 crore was spent by the AIADMK regime during their previous ruling period.
The minister added that universal PDS was successfully implemented and free rice was supplied too. There are cardholders who request for wheat instead of rice, and these are met too for free. Following the former Chief Minister Jayalalitha’s plea to keep continuing food subsidy schemes under state’s sponsor, the Tamil Nadu had joined hands with NFS scheme. If not done so, there would have been extra burden to bear with add-on expenditure to the tune of Rs. 2,973 crore, the minister added. He also denied when questioned about reports about shortage of special PDS commodities including palm oil and dal.
