Linking Aadhaar cards of family members with the Ration Card in Tamil Nadu

 ‘Aadhaar Card’ for the single identity concept, can now be linked and must be linked to ration cards.

We can link the Aadhaar card with our ration cards by

 a) Offline method by visiting the ration shop OR 

 b) Online method by downloading an App. in our mobiles

I give below step by step instructions for both the methods:

 a) Offline method by visiting the ration shop

1. Take your ration card and the Aadhaar cards issued to your family members, whose names have been registered in the ration card, to the ration distribution shop.It is advisable to go after 3 pm .

2.After producing the documents you have to tellyour Mobile number which has been registered with Aadhaar card. 

3.The staff in the ration shop will scan yourAadhaar cards with the scanning machine one by one.

4.It is better to take the original Aadhaar card or its Xerox copy for scanning purpose since the scanner is not scanning the Plastic Aadhaar cards due to some technical problem. 

5. Immediately after scanning of the cards you will get SMS in your mobile confirming   that your Aadhaar card has been successfully linked with the Ration card.

b) Online method by downloading an App. in our mobiles
There is another procedure for linking Aadhaar cards with ration card online which is given in the following steps:

1) Download the  TNEPDS mobile App and install it in your mobile

2)Another App QR  code Scan also to be down loaded to scan Aadhaar cards

3)You can select the language English or Tamil by clicking the three vertical dots at the top of the menu.After opening the application enter your Mobile phone registered with Aadhaar and ration card. 

4) You will get a one time  password as SMS in your mobile which is to be entered in the next screen

5) Then touch the place where Aadhaar card to be registered,the scanner camera will be activated.

6)Using the mobile phone camera,scan the Aadhaar card with QR code(a picture in a box of block dots),it will be scanned and the Aadhaar number will be shown in the screen. 

7) Press the button 'submit' and the Aadhaar number will be registered in your ration card.

8)Carry out the same steps (5,6,7) for other Aadhaar cards of your family members whose names have been registered in the Ration card.

CONGRATS .YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY LINKED YOUR AADHAAR CARDS ONLINE WITH YOUR RATION CARD

If you feel that the above online method is difficult ,follow the steps given in Offline method and go to the Ration shop where the staff will do the same activities with the scanner.

Operation Sulaimani-Mind Blowing Initiative to Feed the Hungry

Operation Sulaimani is a free food programme introduced in the city of Kozhikode(CALICUT) in Kerala , India by the district administration and Kerala Hotel and Restaurants Association. It is meant to enable those who cannot afford a meal to have food with dignity and to avoid food wastage.

The program is named after Sulaimani, a popular drink in Malabar, made from black tea, cardamom and lemon juice. 

The idea of Operation Sulaimani is inspired by the Malayalam movie Ustad Hotel where the protagonist, a hotel owner in Kozhikode, feeds the hungry from his earnings. 

Operation Sulaimani ensures that no one in Kozhikode is denied food on account of an empty or even lost wallet. It guarantees a right to food without answering any questions or long delays.

The project was launched by Kozhikode’s District Collector, Prashant Nair, who envisaged this as a community owned and community driven initiative in its entirety. In his own words "Operation Sulaimani is modelled on a system existing in western countries such as Coffee-on-Wall and Food-on-the-Wall, where you pay for an extra meal or coffee"

                                    Kozhikode Collector, Prasanth Nair

The Collector’s office initiated it and the Kerala State Hotel and Restaurants Association roped in over 125 city restaurants to become a part of this.

But, there are no big sponsors nor do any government funds flow in. The small and big contributions by the citizens are dropped into little boxes with ‘Operation Sulaimani’ inscribed on them.

The people of Kozhikode are silently funding an initiative that feeds anyone who is hungry for free, with utmost dignity.

“Nalla Manushyar Aanu” – “They are good people.” This is a default comment that you will hear about the people of Kozhikode, Kerala. From its fabled auto drivers who return every penny of change, to its palliative clinic that provides free care for the terminally ill, to simple heart-warming selfless conversations, the tales of Kozhikode’s good hearted people are greatly cherished.

                    

Now here is a reason why you will also chime in with some words of praise – Kozhikode makes sure no one in the city goes hungry! Be it the poorest, the not so poor, be it you or me – the hungry will be served food for free, with utmost dignity.

People in need can collect a free meal coupon from any of the distribution centres and walk into any restaurant in the city – a meal will be served, no questions asked, no explanations sought.

“We cannot ask a hungry person to get his hunger attested by a certified gazetted officer! That is why we insisted on the philosophy that ‘no questions will be asked’. If you ask for a food coupon, you will get it, it is as dignified as that,” says District Collector of Kozhikode, Prashant Nair, the chief architect of this project

There are now more than 25 Coupon Distribution centres in 14 zones of Kozhikode district. They can be exchanged for a meal in more than 100 restaurants. As of May 2016, around 10,000 meals have been served through Operation Sulaimani.

One of the striking aspects of Operation Sulaimani is the fact that it gets fulfilled within the capabilities of existing systems. No big kitchens to feed the hungry were built and no massive funds were sought in the name of hunger eradication. By leading people to any restaurant in any part of the city, it blended the cause into the everyday function of Kozhikode’s restaurants.

The District Collector adds, “There is no food wastage nor do we have to worry about the safety of the food. If we had chosen to build a large kitchen to supply free food, we would have all these problems. But we just decided to use the existing system and make the best use of it.”

List of Associated Hotels & Coupon Distribution Centres:

 One of the restaurants in the vicinity of the city mental hospital feeds several people who come in with coupons. The restaurant owner says his life has never before felt so blessed.Many restaurant owners like him do not want to take the reimbursements but Team Sulaimani insists that they are paid.

Some people doubt if such a facility will be misused, but the team is not worried about that. Rather, it is finding it challenging to reach more people who are in need. The members found that hunger is not just about the people on the streets, the homeless, it is also discreetly present within our communities. Reaching these people and making them aware that food is the last thing they need to worry about is what the team is obsessed with.

Team Sulaimani believes that the dignity of the people should not be infringed on, and we salute that spirit. 

Governments of other States have to take initiatives to implement this noble hearted  Operation Sulaimani in the cities of their states.

Tirumala tirupati devasthanam senior citizen darshan

               

On 2.11.16 myself and my wife  went to Tirupathi and had a nice and peaceful darshan of the deity using the above facility.The facility is really a boon to the Senior citizens and disabled persons who can avoid standing in the queues for hours together to have darshan.

The details of the facility provided by Tirumala Tirupathi Devathanams (TTD )to Senior citizens and disabled persons are given below

Free Darshan of Lord Venkateshwara for Senior Citizens and disabled persons @Tirupathi.

*Everything is free of cost*.

Age criteria 65. Husband wife allowed. Husband should be 65. Wife can be below 65. No accompanies allowed

There are two slots fixed for Senior citizen darshan. One at 10am and another at 3pm.In each slot 700 pilgrims are accommodated.

You have to produce age proof with photo ID and report  at *S 1 counter* under the bridge crossing the road from Gallery to Temple right side wall. No need to climb any steps.

As per the website you are supposed to go to the counter 2 hours in advance. But I noticed that they were allowing senior citizens till 2.30 pm for darshan at 3 pm.

DRESS CODE:

Woman devotee should wear Saree or Chudidar. Male Devotee should Wear dresses like Shirt and Dhoti. Normal Formal Dresses like Shirt and Pants are also allowed.

Modern Outfits like Bermudas, Shorts, Mini-skirts, Middies, Sleeveless tops, Low-waist jeans and Short-length T-shirts are not allowed. TTD has implemented this rules very strictly. 

From the car parking area at the exit gate of the Temple, a battery car is available to drop you at the counter of entry and vice -versa.

In the counter they will scan your finger print and take a photo of your face and issue a pass with token for Laddus.

                                                

You will get two laddus for which you have to pay Rs.20/-. For more laddus you can pay Rs. 25/- for each laddu.

Good seating arrangement is available in the hall. Drinking water facility and Restrooms are available near the waiting hall.

When you are seated inside ,hot Sambar rice and or curd rice and Hot milk  are provided. 

We were allowed to go inside the temple in a separate queue at 3 pm .All other queues were stopped.We came out of Darshan within 30 minutes after happily seeing the Lord.

After coming out of the temple you have to collect Laddus from the Laddu Distribution centre where you will find a number of counters distributing laddus. In some of the counters they also sell carry bags to take the laddus..

The pilgrim who availed this Special Darshan can not avail the facility again till 90 days.