Tamil Nadu budget 2020-21: Ration cardholders can soon buy grocery items from any PDS shop in state

CHENNAI: Vowing to launch intra-state ration card portability in the state, the Tamil Nadu government on Friday announced allocation of Rs 6,500 crore for food subsidy and Rs 400 crore towards cooperatives for implementing the public distribution system.
Presenting the budget for the year 2020-21, deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam on Friday said that family cardholders with a smart ration card would soon be enabled to draw their entitlements of commodities from any fair price shop in the state.
“Tamil Nadu is successfully implementing the universal PDS in compliance with the National Food Security Act, 2013. The fully computerised PDS is being further upgraded at Rs 38.51 crore,” he said.
Under the special PDS, the supply of tur dal and edible oil at subsidised rates is being continued in the financial year 2020-21 as well.
As many as 585 fair price shops across the state have been upgraded so far as Amma mini cooperative super markets and more than 300 products are being sold at a discount of 5% for the benefit of the common people.