Tamil Nadu: Fingerprint scan at fair price shops in 3 districts

CHENNAI: The state’s civil supplies and consumer protection department has opted for biometric fingerprint readers in all fair price shops to do away with smuggling of PDS rice and other ration items. This is now being implemented on a pilot basis in Trichy, Ariyalur, and Perambalur districts from July 27. The department has sent a circular to district level officers last Saturday.

Except for the family members listed in the smart cards, which are linked to Aadhar, no one else can procure the ration items. There are more than two crore cardholders in Tamil Nadu .


Hitherto, anyone carrying the card can procure the ration items. This move has, however, raised apprehension among workers as many felt that introducing biometric authentication in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic was unsafe. They cited Kerala’s move in suspending it earlier. The department has opted for the biometric system to facilitate TN to get aboard the Centre’s ‘Óne Nation-One Ration Card’ scheme. It would enable cardholders to avail ration items due to them from any ration shop , Commissioner of Tamil Nadu civil supplies corporation Sajjansingh R Chavan told TOI.

The TN government decided to adopt the One Nation One Ration Card on April 1this year. However, it was put on hold following the onslaught of Covid-19.

When asked about the rationale behind introducing biometric authentication during the pandemic, Chavan said, “This is a direction from the Centre. It has been cleared by the Indian Council of Medical Research.”

He added that such authentication would be effective in preventing pilferage of the ration items. According to officials, more than 17,600 quintals of smuggled PDS rice were seized during 2019 to January 2020.