Agartala, August 29, 2025: The Tripura government has rolled out a series of reforms to strengthen the Public Distribution System (PDS), making it more transparent, consumer-friendly, and efficient.

Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, while inaugurating a state-level discussion with officials, ration dealers and transport contractors at Rabindra Bhavan in Agartala city on Thursday announced the launch of PVC ration cards in place of the traditional paper-based ones.

Distribution of the new cards started today, with 4.78 lakh PVC cards prepared in the first phase. These will be handed over through local-level functions by ration dealers in the presence of public representatives.

Highlighting Tripura’s achievements, Chowdhury said, “Tripura ranks first in the North East and third or fourth in the country in PDS performance. We have achieved 81 percent success in e-KYC, and our target is 100 percent so that Tripura becomes number one in the country.”

The Minister also announced that 600 ration shops are being converted into model ration shops in the first phase. To support dealers, the commission under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana and Priority Group has been raised from Rs 143 to Rs 180.

Chowdhury stressed the importance of timely supply and quality control of ration goods, noting that the government provides a subsidy of Rs 25 per kilo on lentils and Rs 15 per kilo on sugar. Ahead of the Durga Puja festival, consumers will also receive atta, flour, and semolina.

Special Secretary Debapriya Bardhan said the review meeting was aimed at ensuring smooth and transparent functioning of ration shops across the state. He added that consumers can now register complaints through the Mera Ration App and Anna Sahayati App.

The programme also witnessed the official handover of new PVC ration cards to dealers and beneficiaries by the Minister and other dignitaries.