State govt. eyeing fresh ration cardholders for coverage under Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai Thittam
The ration cards form the basic unit for determination of beneficiaries under the scheme, which allows only one member of the family to become a beneficiary. After the launch of the scheme in September 2023, the authorities had not only disallowed splitting of ration cards as a matter of routine but also suspended the issue of fresh cards for some time. Subsequently, the issue of new cards was resumed. During the just-concluded session of the Assembly, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin stated that the government would take steps to take in all eligible beneficiaries left out of the scheme and camps would be conducted at 9,000 locations.
According to a perusal of the data regarding the fresh cards issued between February 2023 and March 2025, there was a net increase of around 2.4 lakh cards, a figure that had been arrived at, after taking into account the number of surrendered and deleted cards. However, approximately 4.6 lakh fresh cards had been issued in the given period. After the DMK regime took office in May 2021, around 18.46 lakh new cards were distributed till March 2025.
An official in charge of the scheme expects that a portion of the fresh cardholders would be eligible for coverage even though the official does not want to hazard a guess about the likely number. Asked about the reported advice by certain banks to beneficiaries that the latter should withdraw the entire monthly assistance of ₹1,000 each, the official clarifies that the State government has not given any such instruction to the banks. On the contrary, the government knows pretty well that the beneficiaries, who are all women, would save a part of the amount, which is happening. Besides, the authorities have been suggesting to the banks to develop consumption loan products exclusively to cater to such beneficiaries, the official adds.
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