Pernambut locals denied rations after facing problems with biometric system at PDS shops

VELLORE: Locals attached to the 13 fair price shops in Pernambut town were annoyed that despite Chief Minister Eddappadi K Palaniswami announcing at the beginning of the month that rations would be disbursed based on the old scanning method, the method has not been followed. Besides, no Public Distribution System (PDS) official has made any move to set matters right.

To be recalled, when the biometric system was introduced, the plight of daily wage earners was highlighted through these columns. It was expected that the initial glitches would be either set right or that official action would be taken to ensure that consumers were not affected due to technical issues.

However, Pernambut Consumers Welfare and Protection Association president T Basheeruddin said: “Despite the Chief Minister stating that ration shops would use the old scan system to disburse rations, this has not happened in Pernbambut shops as salesmen are adamant to take fingerprints of the consumers. This despite the biometric machines were not working due to server issues.”

On Tuesday, irate locals came to the road in protest and when the town Congress Committee president G Suresh Kumar telephoned the Taluk Supply Officer (TSO) to request his presence. However, the TSO was rude enough to say that he would not come to the spot and let the people do whatever they want to do.

“Then I informed the Tahsildar, who was in a peace committee meeting. He, however, assured to send somebody, but that person also failed to arrive. Later I also informed Collector A Shanmuga Sundaram through Whatsapp, but again there was no response,” Suresh Kumar told DT Next.

However, it is the daily wage earner who is affected much as he loses wages for two days to come to the ration shop twice due to the above issue. “But then when have officials ever cared about the woes of the public,” says former councillor Meeran G Saleem.