Chennai: With the Centre insisting on seeding Aadhaar number into ration cards and Tamil Nadu joining the National Food Security Scheme mooted by the centre, fair price shops in TN have reduced the rice and sugar quota for those who don’t possess Aadhaar cards.
In a serious blow to the middle class and to those depending on monthly ration, the ration shops are now turning away the members who have not seeded their Aadhaar number. And in case of those who had synchronised their Aadhaar number, the food security norms are implemented under this now a family can avail a maximum of only two kilos of sugar and two litres of kerosene, informed sources said.
“Till October, I was provided four kilos of sugar in my card, but in November, the local PDS shop gave only two kilos of sugar citing food security scheme”, rued M R Venkatesan, a resident of Choolaimedu.
According to TN civil supplies corporation sources, the ration shop supervisors earlier would decide on the quota of the rice and sugar issued to the public.
In case of customers not opting for rice, extra sugar will be given. Similar adjustments will also be given for those who do not buy wheat, but now everything is centralised through the point of sale machine.
When contacted a senior official on this, the official seeking anonymity said that the Centre has restricted the overall supply of ration materials to Tamil Nadu.
The state’s quota allocation of subsidised provisions had been gradually reduced by more than 30 percent in a phased manner by bringing in new norms and guidelines.
