Smart cards to replace ration cards

The State government had allocated Rs. 318 crore for developing smart cards that would replace the existing ration cards, Food Minister R. Kamaraj informed the Assembly here on Thursday.

He was responding to a question from CPI (M) member P. Dilli Babu who raised several issues including non-availability of lentils under the Public Distribution System.

The Minister said the process of moving to smart cards had begun and the scheme would be introduced initially in 39 PDS shops in Chennai and Tiruchi. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa will be launching the scheme shortly, the Minister said.

Mr. Dilli Babu said: “I went to the shop and the shopkeeper told me that there is no stock of tuvaram paruppu (Toor dhal). If 500 card holders are attached to the shop then it should have 500 kg of each of the grains, but that is not happening.”

To this complaint, the Minister replied that though the Central government had stopped subsidy, the State government continued with it and ensured that needy beneficiaries were provided the grains. The government had issued 35 lakh cards so far and at present 2.90 crore ration cards were in circulation, Mr. Kamaraj said.

According to the policy note, between May 16, 2011 and July 31, 2015, the enforcement wing had detained 736 persons for smuggling of essential commodities. The Civil Supplies CID had detained a total of 113 persons so far this year. Last year, 122 persons had been nabbed.

Strengthening granaries

The government has allocated around Rs. 5 crore to strengthen the granaries. In the first phase, 10 godowns will be renovated. It has proposed to build compound walls and lay roads at the godowns in Tiruvanmiyur in Chennai, Erode, The Nilgiris and Thanjavur. In 54 granaries ultra violet light traps will be set up for pest control. An amount of Rs. 50 lakh has been allocated for training employees on better maintenance of produce.

The State government has proposed to conduct consumer awareness camps, for which it has allocated Rs. 13 lakh. Mr. Kamaraj said another Rs. 5 lakh has been allocated to encourage non-governmental organisations involved in consumer protection/awareness activities.