CHENNAI: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) on Friday, citing delays and hardships caused by biometric authentication at point-of-sale (PoS) machines at ration shops, urged the State government to distribute Pongal gift hampers after obtaining signatures.

In a resolution on Pongal gift distribution, the CPM noted that arrangements were underway to provide the 2026 Pongal gift hampers to rice card holders and families living in Sri Lankan Tamil rehabilitation camps through the Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department and the Cooperation Department.

However, the party said the insistence on fingerprint authentication through POS machines was resulting in inordinate delays due to poor internet connectivity across the State.

According to the party, each beneficiary was forced to spend more than 15 minutes to complete the process, causing considerable inconvenience. It urged the government to immediately enhance internet capacity and address technical glitches. As an interim measure, the CPM called upon the government to plan and implement distribution by obtaining signatures from ration card holders to ensure speedy and hassle-free delivery of the Pongal gift hampers.

The demand was part of resolutions adopted at the State secretariat meeting held on January 9 under the chairmanship of state committee member Madukkur Ramalingam. Senior party leaders, including Polit Bureau members and central Committee members, participated in the meeting.

The state committee also adopted resolutions condemning the United States government’s threat to impose steep import duties on Indian goods and announcing a protest on January 22 in major industrial centres of Tamil Nadu. Another resolution demanded action against police personnel for alleged excesses during recent protests against US actions, and sought the withdrawal of what the party described as false cases against activists.