In Chennai, a one-nation campaign removes 2L persons off the beneficiary list

There was pandemonium at the special camps set up at ration stores around the city on Sunday, as hundreds of flood-affected citizens discovered their names were missing from the list of those who might get Rs 6,000 in aid.

 

The “one nation, one ration card” program, which let households get goods from ration shops without changing their address even if they had relocated from other Tamil Nadu states or districts, was the main cause of confusion.

22.11 lakh family ration cards are served by 1,785 fair-pricing stores in Chennai city, according to government statistics. Of these, 17.28 lakh have been found to be eligible for aid, and 3.56 lakh may choose to seek for relief, pending review by the relevant authorities. The Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency’s Aadhaar-linked data was used to compile the list. According to reports, there was uncertainty over the remaining 2.1 lakh cards, which caused confusion at ration stores.

Nineteen civil supply units in Chennai city service between 7,000 and 9,000 cards that are issued outside the city, mostly in neighboring regions. Despite living in Chennai for a few years, between 1.5 and 2 lakh cardholders have not altered their addresses, according to sources. Residents who had their names erased from their family cards but had not yet received replacement cards also flocked to ration stores to apply. People who had moved to Chennai from the districts of Vellore, Villupuram, Kallakuruchi, and Ranipet as well as residents of the unaffected villages of Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, and Tiruvallur were the most severely impacted.

The working-class population of Chennai is concentrated in these surrounding areas. People who have been working and living in cities for years sometimes fail to update their residence address on their Aadhaar and ration cards. 35-year-old S Rajathi, a domestic helper in Korattur, told TNIE that while her name was not on the list of recipients, she had been collecting benefits from fair pricing stores in the area.

“The card was issued at the Ranipet district’s Walajah. I’ve sent in my application, the gas bill, and my Aadhaar number. R Rohit, an additional applicant, said that his Pattaravakkam ground floor home flooded, although he is not in possession of a ration card. “Even though the program covered the majority of the taluks in the Tiruvallur district, my card was issued in Tiruttani and was unaffected by the hurricane. Here, I’ve lost everything. Thus, I’ve filed an application with a lease attached,” he said.

The 3.56 lakh cards who were eligible to apply for assistance included income tax assessees, sugar drawing cardholders, and group A and B gazetted rank officials from both state and federal administrations. “In addition to those excluded by the government, the names of several others were not found in the list,” said an official stationed at a ration store. All those who indicated that their homes were impacted have received applications.

Everyone who is impacted will get relief, according to Commissioner of Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Har Sahay Meena. Prior to processing such applications, inspections will be carried out by the company and other organizations. The biometrics of applicants will be checked to make sure they are legitimate.