Card-holders getting free rice at a fair price shop in Cuddalore on Wednesday.
CUDDALORE:
Distribution of free rice through fair price shops in Cuddalore and Villupuram districts began on Wednesday without any fanfare. It was business as usual in over 3,300 fair price shops in both the districts.
Since it happened to be the beginning of the month, some of the shops attracted good number of ration card-holders as usual. Otherwise, no heavy rush was seen anywhere in these districts. The assurance given by the officials that adequate quantity of rice stocks were kept in the fair price shops to meet the requirements of all eligible card-holders and moreover they could lift their entitlements on any day of the given month had removed anxiety among people.
What surprised the card-holders was that neither was it made a political function nor a government function. But for the small handbills declaring that free rice would be made available from June 1, pasted on the doors and walls of the fair price shops, there were no big banners or hoardings proclaiming the scheme. The card-holders were more than happy to get free rice, for which they profusely thanked Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. However, what was still causing concern among home makers, such as Madhi and Selvi who came to get rice at Vandipalayam shop, was that the prices of other essential commodities were still ruling high in the markets.
In Cuddalore district, Collector in-charge C.Rajendran, along with Public Relations Officer Pon.Muthiah, inspected the fair price shops at Kondur and Padhirikuppam. He said that there were a total number of 6,38,525 card-holders in the district, of whom 5,57,071 were eligible to get free rice and 81,454 were beneficiaries of the Antyodaya Annayojana scheme (entitled to 35 kg of rice each a month). There were a total number of 1,360 fair price shops in the district, of which 1,123 were running full time, 227 part time and 10 manned by self-help groups.
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