Since the DMK returned to power last year, 10,92,064 lakh new ration cards have been issued, according to a policy note on the Food and Consumer Protection Department filed on Friday by Food and Civil Supplies Minister R. Sakkarapani.
The State has a total of 2,21,31,032 smart family cards, as on March 21, 2022, according to the policy note for 2022-23.
It said the Government of India had gradually cut down on the monthly allocation of kerosene. Under the public distribution system, kerosene was supplied for cooking and lighting purposes to the family card-holders not having LPG connections and having single LPG connection, the note said. The monthly requirement was 36,953 kl as on March 21 this year.
However, the Government of India cut the allotment to the State to 7,536 kl in April 2021 from 59,852 kl in April 2006. This was only 20% of the requirement, and the State had been requesting the Centre for more kerosene, it added.
In his reply to the debate on the demand for grants, Mr. Sakkarapani said the government would launch an alternative to biometric authentication through fingerprint scanning at fair price shops. He said rice would be distributed in pockets to the cardholders.
The Minister made key announcements, including deliver of new smart cards to the beneficiaries by post and the prizes for the best functioning fair price shops.
Earlier, the Assembly witnessed heated arguments between AIADMK and DMK members. The AIADMK sought more time for its MLA Sellur K. Raju to speak during the debate on the demand for grants for the Department of Co-operation, Food and Consumer Protection. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin requested Speaker M. Appavu to grant more time to Mr. Raju.
Before the Minister’s reply, the AIADMK members walked out, but the remarks made by Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami were expunged.
