Assam mulls introducing e-POS devices to check pilferage in PDS

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Like other States of the country, Assam is also mulling installing Aadhaar cards-linked electronic point of sale (e-POS) devices in order to check pilferage in the public distribution system (PDS) and also to keep a tab on fake beneficiaries.

An official in the Directorate of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs said, "Many States have already launched e-POS service. If the Assam Government gives the green signal, we will also introduce e-POS devices that are linked with Aadhaar cards of beneficiaries. The e-POS devices will have biometric system. This will help to check anomalies in PDS. With the introduction of the e-POS machines, it will become easy to streamline distribution of ration under PDS."

In Assam, the process of linking Aadhar cards to ration cards is yet to pick up pace. So far, Aadhar seeding against ration card is 10,67,519 only.

As on July 31, 2021, the total number of PHH (Priority Household) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration cards issued in Assam under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) was 58,94,276 while the total number of beneficiaries was 2,51,17,073. There are total 36,606 fair price shops (FPS) across the State.

State Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Ranjit Kumar Dass had recently urged ration card holders whose annual income is over Rs 1 lakh to voluntarily give up their ration cards. As per official information, so far people have given up 5,000 ration cards after the minister's appeal.

Also Read: Aadhaar seeding of ration cards an effective tool to identify bogus ones

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