Want Family cards, Pattas? Not now

Chennai: ‘Hope for a change,’ a slogan often found on the poll plank of the Opposition during the onset of election process, has spelt trouble for residents. Alteration of residents’ family card details is not being done since the election notification has been issued.

The PDS beneficiaries who submitted their family cards for either shifting or corrections during last month, and were asked to collect the cards on Monday, were told that the taluk supply officials were busy with election work.

When card holders objected to this ‘irrational’ move, the supply office staff replied that the decision had been passed on from the very top and as well as from the Election Commission. “I had submitted the family card for shifting between the zones in Madurai district. An acknowledgement was issued to me that my application for shifting would be done and the card will be returned on March 7. But, now they tell me that I would have to wait for a couple of months before the family cards are  returned”, said Israel Jayachandar, a retired government school headmaster.

A new family card applicant, requesting anonymity, said he had received a text message stating that his card was ready. “Now, they say the DSO (district supply officer) has locked up all new cards along with other cards seeking alterations. I have been asked to wait until the new government is formed. The model code of conduct has come as a shocker to me”, he said.

“The worst affected are families that rely only on ration supply to run their families, as they would not be able to receive the commodities without family card”, he pointed out. Issue of ‘patta’ for recently purchased land, which is dealt by the Revenue department, has also been stopped, post-notification of election. Similarly, several other services have been stopped in the state citing  
elections.