Tamil Nadu

10 lakh families may seek new ration cards

By S. Vydhianathan

CHENNAI, JUNE 11. About 10 lakh families are expected to seek new ration cards, applications for which have been received at various anganwadis and noon meal centres from June 1.

This follows the government's announcement that applications from families, which did not have ration cards till now, can apply between June 1 and 30. After processing the applications and verifying details, cards will be distributed from the first week of August, according to official sources.

In the first 10 days, about four lakh applications were received and another six lakh persons are expected to apply in the remaining 20 days. There will be no salary ceiling for getting the cards.

Of the existing 161 lakh ration cardholders, about 136 lakhs are eligible for subsidised rice, while the rest get either additional sugar or kerosene. These include about 18.5 lakh cardholders, earlier classified "honorary cardholders", whose monthly income is Rs 5,000 and more and were excluded from the distribution network. Now these cardholders can also get commodities at subsidised rates after the withdrawal of the "H" system.

But contrary to the public protest against the introduction of "H" cards, there is lukewarm response to cancellation of the "H" seal, being done at fair price shops.

After the addition of new cards, the monthly rice offtake under the public distribution system is likely to increase by 20,000-25,000 tonnes, from 1.7 lakh-1.8 lakh tonnes now.

On complaints by the public that employees at anganwadis and meal centres were reluctant to receive applications for new cards, the sources said that as the job was an additional work, there might by some reluctance among a few employees but the problem should not be generalised. The anganwadis and meal centres were selected, as the public would have no difficulty in locating them. After the first week's rush, there was not much crowd now, the sources said.

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