Questioning what he described as the slow pace at which the State government was working towards replacing ration cards with smart cards, DMK treasurer M. K. Stalin on Sunday sought to know what happened to the ₹318 crore that the government had allocated for the scheme back in 2011.
“The State government has to explain what happened to the ₹318 crore which was originally allocated for the scheme and specify the projects on which these funds were spent,” Mr. Stalin said in a statement.
He criticised the government for pasting additional sheets in ration cards this year as well instead of issuing smart cards.
Pointing out that Food Minister R. Kamaraj had stated in the House that ₹318 crore had been allocated for the smart card scheme, which would be implemented in Chennai and Tiruchi districts in the first phase, Mr. Stalin added, “But, the state of affairs is such that after six years of AIADMK rule, the scheme has not been implemented even in these two districts till date.”
Reports that additional sheets were being pasted in 2.43 crore ration cards only meant that the smart card scheme remained on paper, he alleged.
Noting that the poor were already bearing the brunt of rising prices of essential commodities and that the ration card served as an important proof of residence, Mr. Stalin urged the Chief Minister to implement the smart card scheme at the earliest.
