Agartala, Aug. 30 -- Tripura's Food and Civil Supplies Department has begun issuing PVC ration cards to public distribution system (PDS) beneficiaries, replacing the older paper-based documents, officials said on Saturday.

In the first phase, 4.87 lakh PVC cards will be distributed out of a total of 9.91 lakh family ration cards. The remaining cards will be issued in phases once cardholders complete their e-KYC, Food and Civil Supplies Director Sumit Lodh told the media.

"As part of the modernisation plan, we have started distributing PVC ration cards, which are more durable and resistant to damage or dirt, even during the monsoon," Lodh said.

The department has also earmarked 600 government fair price shops, out of 2,072, to be conver...