The Hindu : Front Page : More seek ration cards

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Wednesday, Jun 29, 2011
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More seek ration cards

Special Correspondent

TIRUCHI: Supply of free rice and freebies promised by the government has apparently triggered a surge in the number of applications for new ration cards in Tiruchi district over the past few days.

On Tuesday, a huge crowd of applicants was seen at the Tiruchi Taluk Office. A majority of the applicants thronged the office to get their names deleted from their family cards, in the names of parents or in-laws, and to apply for new cards in their names. Many others had come to submit applications for new ones.

The handful of staff at the Taluk Office were struggling to cope up with the crowds. Though there has been a steady increase in the applications received in the past few days, the turnout of applicants was heavy on Monday and Tuesday.

On Monday, 46 applications were received for new ration cards, and over 200 applications seeking deletion of names from existing ration cards, which is essential for those seeking to get separate ration cards.

Many women applicants said that they had come to delete their names from their family cards and apply for new applications post-marriage. Some complained that they had to wait for over an hour in the queue to submit the applications.

Most of the applicants from middle-income group families, unaware of the procedure to apply, thronged the handful of petition writers at the Taluk Office, in front of the Corporation office and the roadside.

The number of petition writers also has gone up proportionately and they could be seen busy writing the applications on behalf of the applicants for a fee. Officials said there was no need for applicants to approach these petition writers and applications, written on plain paper, was enough.

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