Collector Tharbagaraj inaugurates eight new ration shops in Tiruvannamalai Tk

Eight new ration shops constructed at a cost of Rs. 1 crore were inaugurated in Tiruvannamalai taluk to improve access to essential commodities for the public.
District Collector K. Tharbagaraj inaugurated the shops and dedicated them for public use. Tiruvannamalai Corporation Mayor Nirmala Velmaran presided over the function.
Officials said the Public Distribution System in the district is functioning through the Cooperative Department with a total of 1,756 ration shops.
These include 1,145 full-time shops, 600 part-time shops, eight shops operated by women’s self-help groups and three Amudham ration shops run by the Tamil Nadu Consumer Goods Trading Corporation. Around 7,91,717 ration card holders in the district benefit from these shops.
This includes 6,65,357 rice ration cards, 2,895 sugar ration cards, 77,542 Antyodaya Anna Yojana rice cards, 45,471 beneficiaries receiving rice under the old age assistance scheme and 452 ANP ration cards.
Officials also said that under the Chief Minister’s scheme, about 77,686 family card holders including persons above 70 years of age, those below 18 years and differently abled persons are receiving essential commodities through the Public Distribution System.
The newly opened ration shops have been established using funds from the MLA Constituency Development Fund and other schemes. They have been set up in Sagayam Nagar, Samudra Colony, Ellukuttai Street, Thenimalai Parvathy Street, Melchettpattu Panchayat, Meiyur Panchayat, Chinnakallappadi Panchayat, Uridyapuram and Pa. Valasai areas to enable residents to easily obtain essential food items near their homes.
District Revenue Officer I. Rampradeepan, Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies Parthiban, Corporation Deputy Mayor Rajangam, Corporation Commissioner Selvapalaji, Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies Vinoth, Revenue Divisional Officer Selvam, Taluk Officer Mohana Raman and DMK Municipal Secretary Karthi Velmaran were among those who participated in the event.