Everyone, irrespective of whether they hold a valid ration card or not, can buy the ₹500 grocery kits that will be distributed through PDS shops across the state, the Government told the Madras High Court on Thursday.
“The kit s are not distributed free of cost. But, there is no restriction that only ration card holders can buy them,” a counter-affidavit filed by registrar of cooperative societies said.
Since Covid-19 is endangering life of people, the government planned to sell the kits through fair price shops as a relief measure based on the willingness and requirement of the people, the state said in its counter-affidavit.
The state made the submission in response to a public interest writ petition filed by Advocate A P Suryaprakasam seeking to distribute such relief to everyone without insisting on ration card.
Besides PDS shops, these kits will be available for sale in retails outlets of Amma minicooperative supermarkets and mobile farm fresh consumer outlets run by cooperative institutions, the state submitted.
As to the relief sought by the petitioner to deliver the relief material to beneficiaries’ doorsteps, the state said though the cash relief of ₹1,000 was handed over to people at their doorsteps, distribution of other material in the same manner cannot be done due to practical difficulties.
However, enough precautions are taken while distributing the materials through PDS shops by issuing only 100 tokens per day, the state said.
