Cancellation of byelection clears the decks for distribution
With the cancellation of the byelection to the R.K. Nagar assembly
constituency, the Civil Supplies department is likely to begin issuing
smart cards shortly to beneficiaries of the public distribution system
(PDS) belonging to the Chennai district.
As per the original plan, the distribution of smart cards was to commence after April 17, by which time, the poll process would have ended.
This formed the basis for the schedule of printing of the cards district-wise. Chennai was to be covered later. But, as the model code has been lifted following the cancellation of the byelection, officials will have to start covering the city too, possibly by early next week, a senior official says.
Totally, there are 20.1 lakh cards in Chennai with 83.5 lakh beneficiaries. For approximately 59.5 lakh beneficiaries, the linking of Aadhaar numbers has been done. Mobile phone numbers for around 17.7 lakh cards have been registered.
The official points out that the Central government has fixed the deadline of June 30 for the linking of Aadhaar numbers with PDS beneficiaries. As far as the State government is concerned, entitlements will not be denied to any eligible PDS beneficiary, despite not having an Aadhaar number.
“However, our plan is to see to it that all the eligible beneficiaries are provided with Aadhaar numbers. In about 1.3 lakh cards in Chennai, not even one beneficiary listed in these cards has an Aadhaar number. As we regard this number as small, we are toying with the idea of conducting a special drive for all those beneficiaries who do not have Aadhaar numbers,” the official says.
Explaining the procedure for getting smart cards, the official says that the head of family would receive a message on his or her registered mobile number, besides a one-time password. By providing this detail to the respective PDS shop, the person can get the smart card. Any member of his or her family can also receive the card on the presentation of the required information.
No surrender of cards
There is no need to surrender conventional cards to officials of the shops.
Each card would display in Tamil the names of those members of the family concerned whose Aadhaar numbers have been linked.
The front portion of the card would carry the name of the head of family. In respect of a priority household card (akin to the earlier Below Poverty Line cards), the oldest woman member has been designated as the head of family and this is to fulfill the requirements of the National Food Security Act.
As per the original plan, the distribution of smart cards was to commence after April 17, by which time, the poll process would have ended.
This formed the basis for the schedule of printing of the cards district-wise. Chennai was to be covered later. But, as the model code has been lifted following the cancellation of the byelection, officials will have to start covering the city too, possibly by early next week, a senior official says.
Totally, there are 20.1 lakh cards in Chennai with 83.5 lakh beneficiaries. For approximately 59.5 lakh beneficiaries, the linking of Aadhaar numbers has been done. Mobile phone numbers for around 17.7 lakh cards have been registered.
The official points out that the Central government has fixed the deadline of June 30 for the linking of Aadhaar numbers with PDS beneficiaries. As far as the State government is concerned, entitlements will not be denied to any eligible PDS beneficiary, despite not having an Aadhaar number.
“However, our plan is to see to it that all the eligible beneficiaries are provided with Aadhaar numbers. In about 1.3 lakh cards in Chennai, not even one beneficiary listed in these cards has an Aadhaar number. As we regard this number as small, we are toying with the idea of conducting a special drive for all those beneficiaries who do not have Aadhaar numbers,” the official says.
Explaining the procedure for getting smart cards, the official says that the head of family would receive a message on his or her registered mobile number, besides a one-time password. By providing this detail to the respective PDS shop, the person can get the smart card. Any member of his or her family can also receive the card on the presentation of the required information.
No surrender of cards
There is no need to surrender conventional cards to officials of the shops.
Each card would display in Tamil the names of those members of the family concerned whose Aadhaar numbers have been linked.
The front portion of the card would carry the name of the head of family. In respect of a priority household card (akin to the earlier Below Poverty Line cards), the oldest woman member has been designated as the head of family and this is to fulfill the requirements of the National Food Security Act.
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