From today, smarts card to replace ration cards in TN

The smart family cards scheme is finally becoming a reality. Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is unveiling it on Saturday at Ambattur in the city.

The CM will launch the scheme and commence distribution of essential commodities using the cards at a cost of Rs 330 crore through video conferencing. He will also deliver a special address.

Sources said the cards have already been sent to the respective District Collectorates and they would be issued to the ration card holders across the State from Saturday.

The ration cards that were in use in the State at present, were issued in 2005.

Although the cards expired in 2009, the government had continued with the same card by pasting additional
papers.

There are 1.96 crore family cardholders in the state and government offers subsidy to supply of food grains. In the last five years, the AIADMK regime had spent Rs 24,450 crore towards food subsidy.

Recently in a related development, cooperation minister Sellur K Raju had a review with officials about supply in PDS outlets run by the department.