Tamil Nadu chief minister and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) supremo J Jayalalithaa today launched the free rice scheme, which was promised in party's 2011 Assembly manifesto.
The scheme was kick started under the public distribution system at Triplicane Urban Co-operative Society (TUCS) in Alwarpet, Chennai.
The new scheme offers 20 kg free rice to 18.4 million cardholders and 1.86 million Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) beneficiaries. Besides, 35 kg a month will be distributed to the cardholders covered under Antyodaya scheme.
Meanwhile, responding to a question about the increasing theft of ration items from PDS centre, Jayalalithaa said, “Complaints about PDS have never come in the AIADMK regime. If faults have crept in, it would be due to faulty policies by previous DMK government."
Reports say that a flying squad that would carry out surprise checks has been formed in all the districts to monitor the execution of free rice scheme.