Minister Muthusamy distributed new electronic family cards to beneficiaries in Coimbatore, addressing ration supply issues and women's rights scheme. District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati discussed biometric authentication for ration distribution.
Coimbatore: Housing and Urban Development Minister S. Muthusamy distributed new electronic family cards to beneficiaries at a function held in the District Collector's Office meeting hall.
The event marked the first phase of distribution, with 750 cards handed out of a planned 6,000.
In a press conference following the event, Minister Muthusamy provided key statistics about ration distribution in Coimbatore. He stated that there are 1,542 ration shops in the district, serving approximately 34 lakh people through 11.42 lakh family cards.
Addressing concerns about ration card applications, the Minister explained that some applications might have been rejected due to discrepancies or duplicate requests within the same family. He assured that rejected applicants could reapply, and their cases would be reviewed for fairness.
Regarding the Women's Rights Amount scheme, Muthusamy reported that about 1 crore 17 lakh people are receiving benefits, with an additional 1.4 lakh beneficiaries added recently. He encouraged eligible individuals who haven't applied to submit their applications, assuring that all valid requests would be processed.
The Minister acknowledged past shortages in ration supplies but stated that about 90% of these issues have been resolved. He assured that efforts are ongoing to address the remaining concerns, with the District Collector monitoring the situation monthly.
District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati, addressing queries about biometric authentication at ration shops, informed that iris scanners have been provided to all shops. This allows for alternative identification when fingerprint scanning fails, ensuring uninterrupted distribution of ration goods.
Collector Pati also addressed concerns about road conditions, particularly mentioning Sarada Mill Road and Palakkad Road. He explained that ongoing underground drainage works and limited working hours (4-5 hours nightly) have caused delays, further exacerbated by recent rains. However, he assured that measures are being taken to open major completed roads for public use within the next 15 days.