Soon, biometric system to be introduced in PDS shops

“To prevent pilferage, we are working on the biometric identification project. It will be implemented in such a way that common people will not be affected,” the minister said, after inspecting the quality of rice and other pulses stocked at the government warehouse in Anna Nagar. 

Reacting to recent media reports that a large quantity of rice stocked at a government warehouse in Maduranthagam got wasted due to the rains, Kamaraj said it was not true and that no rice was wasted. 

“The rice was about to be dispatched to Pudukkottai. There was sudden rain when the tarpaulin which covered the rice bags was removed but workers immediately acted,” he said. 

“If the rice had been wasted as claimed it would have sent to boiling centres. However, in the current case, the rice was safely shifted to Pudukkottai from the Chengalpattu railway station,” said Kamaraj. 

When asked about the decision of the Central government to close paddy procurement centres in the Delta districts, Kamaraj said, “According to the Central government, there will be no harvest between July and September. Hence, they decided to shut the procurement centres. Following the State government’s intervention however the Centre relented.”