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Chennai lags in linking Aadhaar to PDS cards
The state government move to replace existing booklet type family ration cards with smart cards from January 1 next year at an estimated Rs 318 crores is yet to gather steam specially in Chennai as consumers are not fully aware of details needed by the civil supplies and consumer protection department, according to officials at the Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection department.
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
“Of the roughly 20 lakh cards in Chennai, only 8 lakh updated their details,” an official said. The move was the result of CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) report in 2012 which found that 8.37 crore consumers included in the family cards a year earlier exceeded the state population by 1.16 crore proving the existence of bogus cards.
The state had then readied a proposal to have biometric-based smart cards within a few years to weed out bogus cards totally.
The process includes getting details from consumers Aadhaar cards uploaded into the department database which then forms the foundation for issue of smart cards. But problems cropped up when consumers unknowingly brought photo copies of Aadhaar details which were unacceptable.
Details are then uploaded through the POS (point of sale) machines which have been provided to all 34,773 fair price shops in the state. Officials said while Aadhaar updating in Chennai was around 40% it was 60 % in the districts.
Work began early in 13 districts while others followed suit later. As on date 7.09 crore people are expected to benefit through 1.88 crore ration cards. “While 3.81 crore updated details through POS machines, another 1.46 crore did so through their mobile phones,” officials added. This still leaves 2.81 crore who are yet to upload their details for getting the smart cards.
Smart cards will be compulsory as all ration cards will expire on December 31. In addition to providing stock and shop details including rations drawn to consumers through mobile phones, smart cards will also weed out bogus cards and help curb smuggling of PDS items.
“With just three months to complete the exercise, we are working hard to ensure no delays. This is essential as consumers will be unable to draw rations without smart cards from January 1” the official said.
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