The Tamil Nadu Government has decided to extend the validity of family (ration) cards by one more year.

An official press release said government had arranged to attach one additional sheet to the ration card as part of the renewal programme and cards would be made valid from January 1 2015 to December 31 2015.

Intense steps have been taken to check the illegal transportation of essential commodities meant for Public Distribution System, Food Minister R Kamaraj said, adding that 612 people have been arrested in this connection.

The release said adequate quanity of rice had been stored for the next three months and steps were being taken to ensure distribution of pulses, sugar, wheat, palmolein and other essential commodities.