Ration Card has been using incessantly since the Second World War in the Indian Republic States. It had inaugurated to distribute (sell at the low price) grain equally between civic. It also contained kerosene. In India, ration card is used to collect necessary grain, kerosene and to explain identity proof. During the Indian independence period, civilians were using Stove to cook food even some of the villages still using. This stove working with kerosene. Most of the villagers have been using natural product source to cook food. Due to insufficient availability of electricity, kerosene was used to diffuse light in both urban & rural area. The government was troubling to put it out on end users because of their huge requirement. Then the government decided to develop some phenomena which will distribute equal quantity & minimum rates. Consequently, the government introduced the Ration card, to distribute necessary items with predefined quantity & price. With this policy of grain distribution, civic were getting the required quantity with few efforts.
In India corruption is a serious issue, it is to blaze like the virus. It has to clinch on arm to all government sectors & services. Thus ration card has to clinch on corruption’s arm. Civics have considered ration card as a source of black income. The government had decided some eligibility criteria for ration card holders, which was “holder’s annual income must be less than the fixed amount”. But in the actual person who has a sufficient source of income, also have the ration card. This person introduces them as the applicable candidate with the support of bribe. Now they start collecting grains which are deserving for some poor person. Government introduces ration card to the candidate who isn’t capable to breed up their family. Usurers are collecting grains and other products even their family members are in good condition and status. They will sell grain on market with a good amount, to observing point is their consumer will poor candidate who isn’t able to afford two times food for their family. This is unfortunate of the nation that usurers are getting more and become stronger & poor vacate their empty hands to become poorer.
It was very necessary to step forward against food corruption. Now Tamilnadu government introduces digitize ration card with name smart ration card. Smart ration card is a replacement of the previous card, which is normally used to supply food grains and other provisions by the government at a subsidized cost to a specific class of people in the society. Ration cards ensure that financially struggling families can easily get food products & kerosene for their living. Ration cards also a proof of identity and address that is accepted by all other Government departments. With technology and digitization, the Tamil Nadu government has started issuing Smart Ration Cards. Tamil Nadu Smart Ration Cards are supported with a mobile application that allows the user to know about nearest ration shops and the products that are available. They can know about the actual cost of the product. They can also find government allotted quantity of product, actually, currently, store operator tell them to lie that, “government reduces quantity this time”. Sometimes they say “government is not allowing to distribute this product” even they have product. Actually, they all are corrupted. They hide product and sell it on market to get upper income. The poor person isn’t aware with fraud commitments of store operators. Some time to needy family offer for the bribe then store operator provide them consumption items. Actually to make easier & corruption free distribution government mandate consumer’s signature but store operators started to make fake sign himself. But in smart ration card store operator can’t lie because cardholder have access to know about product availability. Cardholder also know about the actual quantity of product, which was issued by the government.
Smart ration card is Android platform supported the application. It can also be open and execute from the website. All previous cardholders’ data is cross-checking and converting it on the smart card. Government have started two core operations for smart ration card, first one is to create new and another one is to update the previous card. To apply for new smart ration card applicant should follow such steps- “The applicant has to visit the official website of Tamilnadu Public Distribution System at http://www.tnpds.gov.in and choose the preferred language. Then the applicant has to click on Smart Card Application given under Smart card application services section. By clicking on that option, the application form opens. The applicant has to enter all the details. After entering all the details, the applicant has to affix the photograph of the head member of the family. The format can be in png, gif, jpeg, jpg files under 10 KB size. The residence proof can be uploaded in png, gif, jpeg and pdf format. The size of the file should not be more than 100 KB. After entering all the details and uploading the files in the correct format, Submit option has to be clicked. Once submitting the form, a reference number will be received the applicant. This number can be used to check the status of the ration card”. To apply update previous ration card consumer should follow such steps- “The applicant has to visit the official website of Tamilnadu Public Distribution System at http://www.tnpds.gov.in and choose the preferred language. The applicant has to click on Correction of Details that is given under Correct Your Smart Card section. The applicant then has to enter the registered mobile number to open the correction form. An OPT will be sent to the mobile number and after entering the OTP, the required changes can be made. After entering all the details, the applicant has to affix the photograph of the head member of the family. The format can be in png, gif, jpeg, jpg files under 10 KB size. Click on Submit option once it is done. Once submitting the form, a reference number will be received the applicant. This number can be used to check the status of the ration card”.
With this smart ration card Tamilnadu government also trying to make women empowerment stronger. In previous ration card head of the family was considering only to the husband but in smart ration card head of the family is wife. Here government wants to say the husband can be ahead of income but women are ahead of the house. This is an appreciating job done by Tamilnadu government towards women empowerment. It will make a good impact on “save daughter & teach daughter” mission. With this digitize, smart ration card poor & needy person can get food easily. This card will serve transparency between government schemes and scheme holders. All stats should follow Tamilnadu and develop such a transparent platform for all government projects, scheme, missions etc.
Note: This article is useful for applicants so it can be use as user manual.
