State government launches door delivery of essential commodities in Chennai, nine districts on a pilot basis
The initiative is part of a pilot project by the State government to provide essential commodities to beneficiaries of the public distribution system (PDS). A total of 10 vehicles attached to as many shops in south Chennai went to the residences of senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PwDs) on Tuesday. A shopkeeper was travelling on each of these trucks with the commodities, a weighing machine and a palm reader.
A.N. Valli, another senior citizen who benefited from the initiative, said she was told that the mobile shop would visit her locality the following day, too. 'Even though the shop I normally visit is only two streets away from my residence, this arrangement of door-delivery will be very convenient for me and other senior citizens. I appeal to the government to continue the measure,' Ms. Valli said.
The mobile shops are expected to cover parts of north Chennai on Thursday.
'The idea is to ensure that those aged 70 or above, PwDs, and persons in need get essential commodities at their doorstep,' a top government official said, pointing out that it was the State government's own initiative. Around 5,000 beneficiaries are likely to be covered during the ongoing drive.
Apart from Chennai, the pilot project covers Cuddalore, Ranipet, Tirunelveli, Erode, Sivaganga, Nagapattinam, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, and the Nilgiris. The coverage will be comprehensive — rural, coastal, hilly, semi-urban, and urban. Launched on Monday, the study is being conducted through the cooperative societies running the fair price shops. It will be completed by Saturday (July 5).
After assessing the pilot project, the government will take a call on further course of action, the official said.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will make a formal announcement.
Consumer activist T. Sadagopan said the government could have issued a press release before launching the pilot study. 'A few days ago, some officials were seen going from house to house, seeking details of the elderly and PwDs. As many PDS beneficiaries are not aware of the government's initiative, they are reluctant to respond to calls or speak to unknown persons — a situation that could have been avoided easily,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
5 days ago
- News18
UPSC Pratibha Setu portal helps ESIC recruit 451 insurance medical officers
Agency: New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has recruited 451 candidates for the post of insurance medical officer through UPSC's 'Pratibha Setu' portal, according to an official communique issued on Thursday. These candidates were selected from the disclosure lists of Combined Medical Services Examination 2022 and 2023, it said. The disclosure lists have non-recommended candidates, willing to share their information to organisations under Pratibha Setu initiative, who cleared all stages of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams but did not make it to the final merit list, the Commission said in a post on LinkedIn. Pratibha Setu (Professional Resource And Talent Integration – Bridge for Hiring Aspirants) allows verified employers including central government and private organisations to connect with top talent from India's most competitive examinations. 'Every year, many bright candidates clear the toughest stages of the UPSC examination but narrowly miss the final merit list. Pratibha Setu offers a structured way to bring their talent into the service of the nation through other credible avenues," said UPSC chairman Ajay Kumar. Pratibha Setu thus creates a meaningful link, a bridge, between aspiring candidates and organisations seeking merit, he told PTI. 'It is a shared step forward in ensuring that talent finds its rightful place," Kumar said. Pratibha Setu provides access to the details of non-recommended willing candidates who cleared all stages of exams conducted by the Commission but didn't make it to the final merit list. This provides a platform for employers to select non-recommended willing candidates who are almost as meritorious as the recommended candidates, while providing a second gateway for the UPSC aspirants to shine beyond the examination, officials said. Earlier, the list of non-recommended willing candidates of the selected examinations — candidates who qualify the written examinations but are not recommended after the interview — was released under the Public Disclosure Scheme (PDS) on the UPSC's website. The scheme has been in force since August 20, 2018. The Commission first used this scheme to disclose the list of candidates for the Combined Medical Services Examination, 2017. However, the PDS has now been renamed as UPSC 'Pratibha Setu'. Non-recommended willing candidates of civil services examination, and the examinations for the Indian Forest Service, Central Armed Police Forces, Engineering Services, Combined Geo-Scientist, Combined Defence Services, Indian Economic Service/Indian Statistical Service examination and Combined Medical Services are included in the scheme. PTI AKV AKV KVK KVK view comments First Published: July 17, 2025, 22:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Indian Express
08-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Tamil Nadu: Aadhaar suspended, PwD loses benefits for four years
TIRUNELVELI: For over four years, C Manikandan (31), who was born without most six fingers, has been deprived of government welfare benefits, including PDS and MGNREGS work, as his Aadhaar has been suspended due to lack of biometric information such as finger print and iris scan. After he petitioned the collector Dr R Sukumar on Monday, his name has been included in the PDS. But Manikandan has a long way to go to get included in the system. Speaking to reporters at the collectorate, Manikandan, a resident of Azhakiyapandiapuram near Manur, said his efforts over the last four years to restore Aadhaar failed. Further, staff of e-Seva centres told him that he can enrol only at the UIDAI's regional centre in Bengaluru. "I was born without four fingers on my left hand and two on my right. The remaining fingers are also deformed. Also, I do not have toes on either foot. My wife is also a disabled person. We have two children. Around four years ago, my Aadhaar was suspended. When I tried to renew it, e-Seva staff told me that my fingerprints were not accepted by the system. The staff said my iris could not be scanned as well and advised me to go to the Bengaluru regional office. We cannot afford to travel to the neighbouring state," he said.
Hans India
08-07-2025
- Hans India
CM resolves 10k grievances in 11 sessions
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has resolved more than 10,000 public grievances during 11 rounds of hearings since assuming office, the CMO said on Monday. According to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), 10,132 out of 10,894 grievances received so far have been addressed — a resolution rate of 93 per cent. The remaining cases are currently under process, it added. Accompanied by a team of seven ministers and senior officers, Majhi on Monday held the 12th session of the Chief Minister's Public Grievance Hearing since assuming office in June last year. The Chief Minister and his team heard grievances of around 1,000 people during the day, the statement said. Continuing his practice, the Chief Minister first met and heard the grievances of persons with disabilities (PwDs) before proceeding to listen to other petitioners in the chamber. 'The Chief Minister directed department secretaries present at the hearing to take immediate steps to resolve the issues raised,' the CMO stated. A single-window mechanism has been established to ensure immediate disbursement of medical assistance to patients suffering from critical and life-threatening diseases, under the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF). Majhi approved Rs 9.50 lakh in assistance for 10 persons requiring urgent medical care. So far this year, Rs 53.50 lakh has been provided to 48 beneficiaries through this streamlined process. Ministers Suresh Pujari, Mukesh Mahaling, Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, Nityananda Gond, Krushna Chandra Patra, Pradeep Bal Samanta and Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia accompanied Majhi during the session. In May, the Chief Minister had stated in a post on X that, 'In a people's government, the highest priority is given to resolving people's problems. The complaints of common people were heard at the new grievance centre at Unit-2 in Bhubaneswar. Officials have been directed to take immediate steps to resolve their problems for the benefit of the complainants.'
