Biometric cards for PDS in Assam
Biometric ration cards have been introduced in the north-eastern state of Assam, India for PDS beneficiaries. The biometric technology helps to identify and remove duplicate registration of beneficiaries and also eradicate invalid ration cards.
Guwahati: The government has decided to introduce biometric smart cards for beneficiaries of PDS in order to make it more transparent and for efficient implementation.
State Food and Civil Supplies Minister Nazrul Islam said that the pilot project for computerisation of PDS will begin initially in three districts of Kamrup, Nagaon and Karbi Anglong and the other districts will also be covered phase wise.
”The centre has cleared the Rs 8 crore proposal submitted by the government to computerise the system in three districts,” he said.
The PDS beneficiaries, under the new scheme will be provided biometric ration cards in place of the existing ones.
The new system will use fingerprints and iris as electronically preserved biometrics to have the individuals registered. These electronic records will be used to prepare ration cards and bar-coded coupons for beneficiaries.
The biometric technology helps to identify and remove duplicate registration of beneficiaries. It will also eradicate invalid ration cards.
The move comes following allegations of large scale anomalies in the issuance of ration cards and distribution of items under PDS.
“Through computerisation of the system we will be able to plug the holes in the process of implementation of PDS schemes. The PDS is a huge network comprising gram panchayats, co-operative societies and more than 33,000 fair price shops, among others,” the Minister said.
Islam however, admitted that 15 to 25% of food items meant for distribution under PDS had not reached the beneficiaries. He also hoped that the system would help maintain transparency in the PDS and drastically reduce the possibility of fraud.
