Tamil Nadu minister: Digital ration cards valid at fair price shops

During the demands for grants for his department in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Food Minister P. Venkataramanan said consumers no longer need to carry physical smart ration cards to fair price shops. They can instead produce the digital version of the document on their mobile phones to purchase commodities. He also said steps would be taken to eliminate the practice of collecting ₹40–₹50 as bribe from farmers for each bag of paddy procured at direct procurement centres. The minister noted that rice prices in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states had increased by ₹6–₹7 per kg due to the West Asia crisis, adding that the increase would be closely monitored and a committee constituted if necessary.