After curtains on RK Nagar by-poll, people expect smart card roll out

Civil supplies officials speaking to DTNext on Tuesday said that the scheme was disallowed in Chennai due to the model code of conduct in force for the RK Nagar by-poll. However, with the Election Commission cancelling the by-poll on April 9 itself, the officials were yet to start the preliminary works for the distribution of Smart Cards to Chennai residents. 

The officials, who were quick to cancel the paid holiday announced for government, private and daily wage and contract workers, were keeping quiet on this issue. It may be recalled that Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy inaugurated the Smart Card scheme on April 1 in the entire state with the exception of Chennai. 

When asked, Civil Supplies officials said, “Work is yet to start and there is no final date of provision for the new cards replacing the old ration booklets.” 

“Chennai has around 20 lakh cards benefiting nearly 1 crore consumers. As we have no specific date on which to issue cards, we go by the Chief Minister’s statement during the inauguration of the scheme that all consumers would get Smart Cards before May 31,” the officials added. 

While distribution had started all over the state, those who had not received their cards were informed through SMS messages on their mobile on when they could pick up their cards from the fair price shops. The 20 lakh cards form part of the total 1.94 crore cards which benefit 6.91 crore consumers. Officials, meanwhile, claim that only 1.89 crore cards exist. 

RK Nagar, which was in the limelight for the past one month was suddenly devoid of the official attention it was getting. The Returning Officer Praveen P Nair’s office remained closed at the zonal office at Tondaiyarpet. His name board was yet to be removed and the election section too had been closed. Nobody knew what would happen to his office. A languid indifference was seen at the office which was earlier filled with hectic activities. 

A street in Harinarayanapuram still had the plastic flags tied across the street. When asked about it not being removed, Amavasai of the locality said, “used plastic party flags are unfit for anything and so nobody bothers to remove it. If it was made of cloth it could at least be used in houses to wipe something. Cloth flags would have been plucked by passers-by or party supporters but not plastic flags.” 

Devoid of all the promises and frills, RK Nagar residents remain as before with no hope of their demands getting fulfilled in the coming days.