In a bid to eliminate bogus cards, the Tamil Nadu Milk Producers' Co-operative Federation (Aavin) is planning to introduce smart cards shortly. The card, which will be distributed free, will be used initially only as an identification card for renewal.
And if this experiment succeeds, renewal could even become online. Besides, when considerable number of bogus cards is eliminated, cards can be issued for additional consumers. At present, the organisation does not issue fresh cards.
A highly placed official told The Hindu that initially the Anna Nagar zone [in Chennai] would be chosen for the smart card project.
The issue of smart cards would be done in association with City Union Bank.
“In the beginning, we plan to distribute 54,000 smart cards after ascertaining the genuineness of the customers.
They will get slips from Aavin soon. Of the total number of cards, 1,200 cards will be for our employees residing in this zone and they will be the first set of beneficiaries.”
Aavin is supplying milk for about 12 lakh cards in Chennai. “It is likely to take a minimum of six months to distribute smart cards to all genuine cardholders in the city,” the official said.
Explaining the modus operandi of the proposed system, the sources said that the bank had agreed to verify the genuineness of the customers for which Aavin is also deputing its staff.” Already we have built up a database after two to three years of toil,” the official said.
The magnetic-strip smart cards, which would be in the size of PAN (Permanent Account Number) cards with particulars such as name and residential address, could be used to swipe in a machine to be installed at the marketing offices of Aavin for renewal.
“We are certain that only genuine cardholders would be able to renew their cards and we also propose to introduce special features such as the photograph of the cardholder in the smart card itself.”
The sources pointed out that when this system was introduced in Coimbatore, as many as 7,000 bogus cards could be eliminated.
Asked in what way the bank would stand to benefit because of helping Aavin, the official said the bank, which would be in charge of production of these cards, would have its logo on the card as a promotional benefit. Once the renewal starts online, the customers would be asked to use the bank's gateway for which a nominal fee would be collected from them.
Thus, the bank would be able to handle a substantial amount and get some commission also.
“Of course, this exercise is going to take a considerable time,” the official pointed out.
While refusing to specify how many bogus cards are suspected to be in circulation, the sources said that when someone gets transferred out of Chennai, his or her family does not bother to surrender the milk card.
“And these are the cards which are in circulation and misused by the vendors or hawkers or tea stalls. Apart from the price difference between Aavin milk and private dairies' milk, another reason for the prevalence of bogus cards is the exceptional quality of Aavin milk,” the official added.
