Card holders keep distance on chairs while waiting for dole on day one

TNN | Apr 3, 2020, 04.59 AM IST

Trichy: People queued up in front of ration shops to collect the dole, which includes Rs 1,000 cash, announced by the state government in Trichy and other central districts on Thursday. Officials, who want the cardholders to maintain social distance, provided them chairs to sit while waiting in front of a ration shop in Pudukottai.

Meanwhile, food minister R Kamaraj has appealed to people not to turn up at the shops to get tokens, as all the beneficiaries would get the tokens at their doorsteps. While speaking to the reporters in Tiruvarur on Thursday, the minister appealed to people to maintain social distance to combat Covid-19.

The process of distribution of cash as well as essentials to 7.85 lakh people through 1,224 ration shops commenced in Trichy, where people maintained social distance, officials said.

“We had clearly mentioned the token number as well as the exact time for the cardholders to arrive at the shop. So, people came to the shops leisurely without hurry. This could help them maintain social distance properly”, joint registrar of cooperative department, Trichy, K P Arularasu said.

However, at some of the shops people did not follow the norms. However, everything set right by the cooperative staff during the first day, officials said.

In Thanjavur, almost all the ration shops have proper markings, so that the beneficiaries could maintain social distance while receiving the dole. A total of 6.53 lakh card holders would get the benefit through 1,185 shops in the district.

Co-operative department staff delivered the dole pack at the doorsteps of those who have been home quarantined at Mathappa Street in Kumbakonam.

At Thirukokarnam in Pudukottai district, cardholders were provided with 50 chairs in front of a ration shop keeping one-metre distance. The beneficiaries, particularly senior citizens, welcomed the initiative.