Now, sugar cards can be changed to rice cards

Chennai

A statement from Food Minister R Kamaraj said Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has directed the Food Department to help those who want to change the cards.

There are 5.80 lakh sugar option ration card beneficiaries who cannot avail rice. Now, those who want to avail rice may submit an online application through the www.tnpds.gov.in or visit the local civil supplies office with photocopies of existing ration cards, a statement said. The application forms will be accepted from December 5 to December 20. The government has decided to provide this option following a long-pending demand from cardholders, Kamaraj said.

In November 2019, the government had issued a similar statement and several cardholders submitted applications seeking conversion of cards so that they can avail all provisions, including rice, sugar, wheat, cooking oil and pulses.

According to official sources in Civil Supplies Department, the Food Security Bill provisions and restrictions by Centre in providing subsidised ration items resulted in cancellation of bogus ration cards and conversion of regular cards into sugar-only card. Even after that, the number of sugar option cards has come down to 5.8 lakh from more than 10 lakhs in 2018. In all, there are more than 2 crore ration cardholders in the State.