Chennai’s Food Department Minister Venkat Ramanan, along with Finance Minister Maria Wilson, made a surprise inspection at a ration shop in the Tsunami Housing area of Tondiarpet on Thursday.
Officials found the shop in an unclean condition, with dust and grime visible. A stock of sarees meant for senior citizens was also seen piled up, leading the minister to question why the items had not been distributed.
During the visit, cats were seen moving around inside the premises. Pointing to the situation, the minister asked whether the cat had “come to see him” and raised concerns about how food items could be kept hygienic if rats and cats were present.
He instructed staff to maintain the shop properly and ensure that people receive quality, hygienic essentials. The minister warned that action would be taken if standards were not met, while staff struggled to respond to his repeated questions.
