Tamil Nadu: Co-operative Minister Raju has announced issuing of smart ration cards from July

“The issuing of smart ration card will be done before the end of July”, said Co-operative Minister Raju at the Assembly.

During the question hour in Assembly:

Muthaiah (AIADMK):  Will the government take steps to issue ration cards to the people in the Ariyakudi village, of Paramakudi constituency, in Ramanathapuram District?

Minister Raju: A full-time ration shop is serving around 978 ration card holders there. There is no need for setting up a new ration shop. 

Pugalenthi (DMK): Ration shops are not set up in places such as Vedanthangal, Melavalampettai and Karunguli of Madurantakam constituency, in Kanchipuram District. When asked about this, the minister told me to carry out an inspection in those places. As an MLA how I can make such inspections, it is the responsibility of the minister. Hence I request the minister to inspect those areas and set up ration shops as soon as possible. A ration shop was constructed in Gandhi Nagar with the development fund from the AIADMK constituency, but it is still not operational. 

Minister Raju: Up to 20 ration shops remain closed due to reasons like lack of power supply. I will make a note of the shops mentioned by the member, before this evening I will disclose the reasons.

Poongothai (DMK): I have insisted the minister set up three ration shops in my constituency. He said that new shops would not be set up until the completion of the issuing of smart ration cards. When will it be over? 

Minister Raju: The issuing of smart ration cards would be done by July. If the request for new ration shops is in accordance with the necessary rules and regulations, the ministry will set up the same. 

The debate on this topic ended this way.

• Tamil Nadu
• Co-operative Minister
• Ration card