New Delhi, 20 November (HS). The Central Government has taken several important steps to reform the Public Distribution System (PDS). Food grains are being distributed through 5.33 lakh e-POS devices by all fair price shops across the country. In these, the focus has been on digitalization, transparency and effective delivery mech.sm. These efforts have significantly reduced distribution m.pulation and helped in increasing beneficiaries.
The Department of Food and Public Distribution has computerized the entire distribution process of all 20.4 crore household ration cards, benefitting 80.6 crore beneficiaries, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said in a statement on Wednesday. These ration cards have been digitized, in which 99.8 percent ration cards and 98.7 percent ration cards of individual beneficiaries have been linked to Aadhaar.
The ministry said that food grain distribution from almost all fair price shops in the country is operated through 5.33 lakh e-POS devices. These e-POS devices make it possible to deliver ration to the right beneficiaries. Aadhaar authentication is currently being used for about 98 percent distribution of total food grains, due to which the possibility of m.pulation has been reduced by removing ineligible beneficiaries.
The Department of Food and Public Distribution has also taken several steps to ensure correct beneficiary targeting through electronic Know Your Customer verification process. EKYC of 64 per cent of all Public Distribution System beneficiaries has been done, while the process of completing eKYC of the remaining beneficiaries is going on at a fast pace. Digitization and linking with Aadhar has eliminated duplication of ration cards and approximately 5.8 crore ration cards have been removed from the Public Distribution System.
According to the Ministry, the national portability of ration cards in the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) initiative ensures regular availability and access of free food grains to all 80.6 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act in any part of the country through the same existing ration card. No matter in which state or district their ration card was issued. With this, only eligible persons should join the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and National Food Security Act (NFSA).
