Though the last issued ration cards completed their time quite long ago, new ration cards have not been issued to the customers.
Supplementary sheets have been inserted and stapled over the last few years and the same old ration card is still being used.
It was reported that the activities to change to electronic rations cards were in full swing.
The Minister for food and consumer items distribution R Kamaraj informed today (Friday, 15th July) that the new electronic ration cards will be distributed only after the current activity of distribution of the Aadhar cards is completed.
A state-level consultative meeting presided by the minister R Kamaraj was conducted today (Friday, 15th July) in Chennai with the officers of the department of food and consumer items distribution.
While addressing the gathering, minister Kamaraj informed that noble scheme of distribution of free rice to 1,9153 Crore family card holders is being implemented in Tamil Nadu.
Activities are being undertaken for the distribution of new electronic ration cards in place of the existing old ration cards.
In the new system, the data of the family card number,the number of members in the family, mobile phone number, the type of family card, and LPG cooking gas details are being registered in the sales equipment set up in each Fair Price Shop.
These details are sent as SMS to the family ration card holder.
Activities are in progress in 13 districts. Arrangements are in progress to take this up in other districts as well.
However, only after the completion of the distribution of Aadhar cards, the distribution of electronic family cards will commence.
The minister insisted that proper training for the fair price shop employees should be given by the company providing the software.
As per the orders given by the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa that new applicants for family cards should be given within 60 days, 1620128 family cards have been issued in the last 5 years. Further 20522 family cards are ready for distribution.
So far, 85123 fake family cards have been detected and removed. 509184 petitions have been received from the grievance camps conducted during the 2nd Saturdays of each month by the Department of the safety of the distribution of food and consumer items. Corrective action has been initiated for 508412 petitions.
The minister requested the department officials to conduct monthly grievance camp once every month , receive the petitions and take immediate remedial actions.