Tamil Nadu Government is implementing Universal Public Distribution System (UPDS) and no exclusion is made based on the income criteria. The Hon'ble Chief Minister has made the universal public distribution system 'poor friendly' by ordering rice at free of cost under public distribution system to all eligible card holders from 01.06.2011.
Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation procures rice and other essential commodities required for public distribution system from Food Corporation of India and through tenders. Distribution of commodities through fair price shops is being carried out by Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation and the Cooperative societies..
The Public Distribution System is implemented through 33,222 fair price shops functioning under the various agencies are as follows:-
| Sl.No | Agency | Full-Time | Part-Time | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation | 1,178 | 277 | 1,455 |
| 2 | Cooperatives (Under R.C.S) | 23,727 | 9,100 | 32,827 |
| 3 | Other Co-operatives | 314 | 162 | 476 |
| 4 | Women fair price shops, including Self Help Groups | 370 | 41 | 411 |
| TOTAL | 25,589 | 9,580 | 35,169 | |
Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation lifts essential commodities from Food Corporation of India and stores them in 284 operational godowns located all over the state. From the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation operational godowns, stocks are moved by lead Cooperative Societies / self lifting societies and delivered at the doorsteps of fair price shops. Similarly, Sugar is moved by Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation from the respective Cooperative / Private Sugar Mills and distributed through its operational godowns. Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation also procures various other essential commodities for Special Public Distribution System directly from the market through tenders and also through designated Government of India agencies. Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation and Cooperatives lift kerosene from wholesale dealers of the oil companies.
The details of family cards in circulation in Tamil Nadu are as follows:
| Sl. No. | Type of Card | Commodities Entitled | No. of Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PHH | All Commodities including Sugar | 76,99,940 |
| 2 | PHH-AAY | All Commodities including 35Kgs of Rice | 18,64,600 |
| 3 | NPHH | All Commodities including Rice | 90,08,842 |
| 4 | NPHH-S | Sugar Option Card (All Commodities except Rice) | 10,01,605 |
| 5 | NPHH-NC | No Commodity | 41,106 |
| TOTAL | 1,96,16,093 | ||
Issue of family cards to eligible families is a continuous process and this Government have issued necessary instructions to the Principal Commissioner and Commissioner of Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection to issue cards without delay. At the same time, bogus cards are also being eliminated.