CHENNAI: As the State's Pongal Special Package distribution enters its crucial phase, thousands of elderly ration card holders across the State are being denied access to the Rs 3,000 cash benefit and essential commodities after fair price shops temporarily suspended iris-based Aadhaar authentication scanners, triggering hardship among single-member and senior-citizen households who weren't able to access kits using fingerprint authentication.

For single-member cardholders, it was impossible to receive the Pongal kit as they couldn't depute any other family member to authorise and get goods on their behalf when their fingerprint access failed.

For many elderly beneficiaries, whose fingerprints often fail due to age-related wear, iris-based Aadhaar authentication had become the only dependable means of accessing the Public Distribution System (PDS). With that option now disabled, several eligible cardholders are being turned away from ration shops even though they hold valid tokens.

S Rajalakshmi, a resident of West Mambalam and a single-member ration card holder, said the situation has left her without any means to claim her entitlements. "My husband died last year. I am the only person on my ration card. My fingerprints do not match, so I always use the iris scanner to get my rations. I was told the iris system had been stopped and asked to come later. I don't know how I will get the Pongal package now," she said.
Muniyappan, a resident of Vetri Nagar, said he too was turned away after his fingerprint failed to authenticate. "The iris-based scanner was the only way for people like me to get our benefits," he said.

PDS shop staff said the suspension followed instructions from the Cooperation, Food and Civil Supplies Department. "We were told orally to stop iris-based Aadhaar authentication during the Pongal distribution because it takes more time than fingerprint verification and slows down the process," a shop employee said.

Senior officials, however, said the move was purely temporary. "The aim is to ensure faster distribution during the peak period. Iris-based authentication will be restored once the Pongal exercise is over," an official told DT Next.

Officials further clarified that the department will allow beneficiaries to collect their entitlements through authorised agents or on January 13 and 14, when those who have not received tokens will also be served. "No eligible beneficiary will be denied the Pongal Special Package. Senior citizens can come on their behalf and receive their cash and commodities," a senior official added. But how such a transaction would be authenticated is not known yet.