Chennai, 26 September: The state government on Saturday organised a one-day special fingerprint verification drive at fair price shops across Tamil Nadu to complete Aadhaar-based biometric linkage for ration card beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
Drive aimed at completing remaining biometric linkages
The camps were scheduled from 9 am to 5 pm at Public Distribution System (PDS) outlets statewide, excluding Maduranthakam and Dharapuram, where by-elections are underway. The exercise targets beneficiaries listed under Priority Household (PHH) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) cards whose fingerprints have not yet been captured at ration shops, a report in Daily Thanthi said.
Officials said the special camp is intended to accelerate completion of biometric verification for all eligible beneficiaries whose names are linked to electronic family cards and to achieve 100 per cent coverage.
Progress so far
Fingerprint registration at ration shops has been in progress since October 2023. According to the Daily Thanthi report, the state has so far completed biometric verification for 96.21% of priority ration card beneficiaries.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Drive timing | 9 am – 5 pm |
| Beneficiaries covered | PHH and AAY holders linked to electronic family cards |
| Coverage achieved | 96.21% |
| Exclusions | Maduranthakam and Dharapuram (by-elections) |
Who should attend and what to carry
Ration card holders who have yet to complete fingerprint registration were urged to visit their designated fair price shops on the day of the camp. While the state government’s advisory did not list required documents in the press report, beneficiaries are generally advised to carry:
- Original Aadhaar card or a valid Aadhaar enrolment acknowledgement slip;
- Ration card or electronic family card details;
- Any identity or address proof if available to resolve discrepancies.
Administrative context and legal framework
The biometric verification is being implemented under the National Food Security Act, 2013, which governs entitlements under the PDS. Aadhaar-based authentication has been used in Tamil Nadu and other states to verify beneficiary identity, prevent diversion of subsidised grain and ensure targeted delivery of food security benefits.
State PDS officials have been conducting phased biometric registration at fair price shops to minimise inconvenience to families. The camps are part of efforts to finalise the remaining linkages ahead of a deadline set by authorities administering the NFSA implementation.
Operational arrangements
Field-level officials said arrangements were made to facilitate household members to complete the process without difficulty. Mobile biometric devices were deployed at fair price shops for on-the-spot fingerprint capture, and supervisors were assigned to monitor the progress.
In constituencies with by-elections — namely Maduranthakam and Dharapuram — the drive was not held on Saturday, in line with election-related restrictions and administrative decisions.
What beneficiaries can expect next
Beneficiaries who complete biometric authentication at the camps will have their Aadhaar linkage updated against ration cards, which will be reflected in the electronic family card records maintained by the Department of Food and Civil Supplies. Those still unable to register due to poor fingerprint quality, age-related issues, or other technical difficulties will be referred to dedicated Aadhaar enrolment centres or follow-up sessions as per district administration guidelines.
Daily Thanthi reported the special camp was organised to achieve complete biometric coverage and urged remaining beneficiaries to visit their fair price shops.
The state’s push to finish Aadhaar linkage comes amid national and state-level emphasis on accurate beneficiary identification to strengthen public distribution and reduce leakages in welfare delivery systems.
Further updates on follow-up camps or alternate arrangements are expected from district civil supplies offices in the coming days.
