Smart Card -குடும்ப அட்டை சேவை 2.1.0

The Tamil Nadu government's smart card information and its associated services offer a range of functionalities aimed at enhancing the user experience for beneficiaries.

• Ability to add family members to the smart card.
• Option to remove family members from the smart card.
• Add or remove the head of the family's name.
• Details regarding ration commodities.
• Access to comprehensive details of the smart card.
• Information on public distribution schemes.

Public Distribution System (PDS) Objectives:

The primary goal of the public distribution system in Tamil Nadu is to provide food to all residents, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The system ensures that essential commodities are made available to low-income individuals through fair price shops at affordable rates each month.

1. Objectives of the Public Distribution System:
   • Aim to eliminate chronic hunger and food scarcity in Tamil Nadu.
   • Protect citizens from adverse impacts arising from rising prices of essential commodities.
   • Household cardholders with non-priority status (NPHH-NC) are not eligible to receive any provisions under the public distribution scheme. As of July 31, 2019, there were 47,282 households with such non-priority cards.
   • Provision of domestic fuels (kerosene and LPG) at subsidized rates.
   • Facilitate easy access for beneficiaries to fair price shops.
   • Ensure timely delivery of essential commodities every month.
2. Key Strategies for Implementing PDS Efficiency:
   • Efficient handling of complaints from cardholders through responsive mechanisms.
   • Opening part-time shops in rural areas with accessibility challenges to existing fair price shops.
   • Mechanisms for timely and secure transportation of essential goods through temporary and route-based mapping.
   • Preventive measures against malpractices through enhanced systems, robust legal enforcement, and criminal deterrence actions.
   • Ensuring precise allocation and transfer of essential goods to fair price shops through electronic means, maintaining accuracy.
3. Sectors Involved in the Public Distribution System: The policies pertaining to the public distribution system in Tamil Nadu are framed by the cooperative and food and consumer protection department of the Tamil Nadu government. These policies operate under the leadership of the esteemed Minister for Food and Consumer Protection, as well as the Chief Secretary. The following sectors play significant roles as stakeholders in Tamil Nadu's public distribution system:
   • Food Supply and Consumer Protection Department (CS&CPD): Operates with a commissioner at the helm across 33 district offices and 315 taluk-level offices.
   • Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC): Responsible for procurement, transfer, and distribution of essential commodities under PDS, functioning under the guidance of an executive director.
   • Registrar of Cooperatives (RCS): Tasked with operating fair price shops through cooperatives across all districts, working under a registrar’s leadership alongside district cooperative registrars.
   • Food Supply Crime Investigation Department: Charged with strong legal enforcement and preventive actions against those involved in malpractices such as smuggling and hoarding.
   • Ministry of Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution: Responsible for determining procurement prices for food items and allocating subsidized food commodities to state governments under PDS guidelines.
   • The Food Corporation of India: A central government entity responsible for procuring rice, wheat, and other essential items from various states and distributing them according to state allocations mandated under its directives.