TN: Biometric ration cards to be issued soon

CHENNAI: In an attempt to create a foolproof measure that will end the prevalence of bogus ration cards, Food Minister S Kamaraj on Monday announced in the State Assembly that the issue of biometric data-based SMART family cards would begin from Pudukottai district as a pilot project at a cost of Rs 21.69 crore.  The project will be extended to other districts soon.  Replying to the discussion on the demands for grants for his department, the Minister said the issue of biometric cards would be extended to other districts soon.In the policy note for the Food Department tabled in the Assembly, the Minister said at present, there was no foolproof system to identify the dual/ multiple registration of one’s name in the family cards. To  rectify this, it had been proposed to replace the existing family cards in circulation with biometric data based SMART family cards.The  Director of Census operations under the National Population Registry is conducting biometric data capturing of 10 finger prints and iris of citizens to issue unique identification number.  After completion of this process, data would be adopted for the issue of biometric cards. The expenditure for implementing the scheme would be around `703.21 crore and a request has been made to the Centre for financial assistance.Procurement of PaddyAt present, the amount for the paddy procured at the direct purchase centres is being disbursed in cash.  Hereafter, it would be paid to the bank accounts of farmers.The Minister said, of the 1,459 direct purchase centres in the State, winnowing machines were available only for 680. During the current year, winnowing machines would be provided to all the centres at a cost of `2.10 crore. The Minister said buildings for 50 direct purchase centres would be constructed at a cost of `12.50 crore.