CM Edappadi K Palanisamy inaugurates Smart PDS cards distribution

“About 1.89 crore families will benefit from the SMART card scheme, which will be executed at a cost of Rs 330 crore,” he said adding that “The state government has decided to complete the distribution of SMART cards by May.” 

Assuring that consumers can continue to buy commodities at PDS outlets using their existing ration cards until they received the smart cards, the Chief Minister advised cardholders to approach the ration shops to collect their SMART cards on receiving an SMS. 

The new Aadhaar-linked SMART cards would prevent impersonation and pilferage in the Public Distribution System, he said. Informing that of the 6.90 crore ration card members in the state, Aadhaar details of about 5.85 crore persons have been collated, Palanisamy noted that out of the 1.89 crore cards, Aadhaar details of all members have been obtained for 1.17 crore. Details of at least one member was available for the remaining 70 lakh cards.

SMART cards produced based on the information at government expense are being distributed to the consumers. Fake cards, duplication of names of members and bogus billing could be averted and distribution of PDS commodities to the deserving would be ensured by this, he said. 

The new system will also provide for applying online for new cards, addition or deletion of members and change of address.