The government will carry out a survey in all the 30 constituencies, starting June 20, to choose the real beneficiaries for welfare measures, Social Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy said.
Replying to a demand made by AIADMK leader A. Anbalagan to restrict the welfare measures to economically marginalised, the Minister said the government wanted the benefits, including free rice scheme, to reach only the deserving people.
Intervening on the issue, Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy said he had already requested the well-off in the society to surrender their cards. There had been good response to the request, he added.
The AIADMK members then surrendered their cards to Assembly secretary and requested others to follow. The Congress members agreed to the request, however, AINRC members said their party policy was to provide everything free irrespective of socio-economic background.
