No PDS tokens at doorsteps in city’s southern suburbs

The residents claim that they need to visit the shop in the morning to collect the token and again in the afternoon to buy the groceries.

Following the lockdown, the State government had announced Rs 1,000 to each family with a family card, apart from free groceries for a month.

Stating that the goods will be provided via a token system, the Chief Minister had advised citizens against crowding at the PDS shops and had assured that tokens will be issued at their doorstep.

However, residents allege that some PDS shops are forcing them to collect the token at the shops. In areas like Pallavaram, Tambaram, Chitlapakkam, Madampakkam and Perungalathur, one should go and get the token from the PDS shop and again come back to collect the money and groceries. Due to the rush, they are also not in a position to maintain social distancing, they allege.

When contacted, an official on condition of anonymity said there is no enough staff strength required to issue tokens at house step and that the same has been conveyed to the higher-ups.