The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Expedite ration card verification: Minister

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Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Expedite ration card verification: Minister

Special Correspondent

E.V. Velu assesses progress of work in Tiruchi

It will help stock adequate quantity of essential commodities under the PDS
Only 72 per cent of about 7.53 lakh cards have been checked so far

FIELD SUPERVISION: Food Minister E.V. Velu enquiring with a resident at Madhava Perumal Kovil near Manachanallur, during an inspection of the progress of verification of ration cards in Tiruchi district on Sunday.

TIRUCHI: The cent per cent verification of family cards, taken up on a pilot basis in Tiruchi, Coimbatore and Anna Nagar and Chepauk zones in Chennai, would help stock adequate quantity of essential commodities under the public distribution system based on a correct assessment of the requirement of genuine card holders, Food Minister E.V. Velu has said.

Reviewing the progress of the verification exercise in Tiruchi on Sunday, the Minister instructed the officials to expedite the process as only 72 per cent of about 7.53 lakh cards have been checked so far in the district. The verification, aimed at weeding out bogus cards, was supposed to have been completed by Sunday.

The Minister, accompanied by K. Shanmugam, Secretary, Food, Cooperation and Consumer Affairs, and K. Rajaraman, Commissioner, Civil Supplies, made a door-to-door assessment of progress of the verification process in certain parts of Tiruchi City, Srirangam and Manachanallur taluks. He made enquiries with residents with respect to the details provided in their family cards and gave instructions to the officials to rectify some shortcomings found.

Speaking at the review meeting, Mr. Velu said that the State Government has allotted Rs.13.05 crore for measures aimed at weeding out bogus family cards and urged the enumerators to strictly follow the guidelines. Over 1,100 enumerators have been deployed for the purpose in the district and 12 teams have been deputed to supervise the exercise. Computerised records have been given to the enumerators and they should collect details of those who have migrated from other parts of the State to the district. Details of card holders who have migrated out of the district should also be collected so that the change of addresses could be recorded in the cards immediately. Enumerators should visit each and every house and should not succumb to any pressure. Bogus cards detected during the exercise should be immediately handed over to higher officials, he said.

Transport Minister K.N. Nehru, Collector T. Soundiah, MLAs Anbil Periasamy, K.N. Sekaran, R. Rani and A. Soundarapandian, and officials attended the meeting.

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