E-POS ration system: Rural Delhi, slums and unauthorized colonies worst affected

NEW DELHI: After the Delhi government decided to give ration through Aadhar Card, the rural parts of Delhi witnessed the main problem. Nearly 25 lakh people did not get ration which forced the government to change the decision. Sources in the government said the government faced the problem in ration distribution in slums, outskirts the unauthorized colonies.

The Delhi government had earlier said that the ration distribution at all 2,254 fair price shops has been made online and will now be managed through the electronic Point of Sale (e-pos) devices. The Aadhaar-based e-pos machines would use biometric identification to ensure that ration card-holders get their allotted share of foodgrains.

The statement said that this is a test run and thus, distribution of 8 per cent card holders will be allowed off-line in order to provide ease to the beneficiaries whose Aadhaar authentication either fails or who still do not possess Aadhaar cards. Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Imran Hussain said that the new system will have a robust mechanism for verification of beneficiaries through the Aadhaar authentication, having features to monitor transactions online.

The decision forced the rural Delhi to a halt. "Most of the people in Delhi slums and unauthorized colonies do not have any ID card as they are mostly immigrants and they cannot get Adhar Card. This played the main reason behind not getting ration," said an official. The official also said that people from rural Delhi were the worst-affected, which forced the government to rethink the decision.

Delhi will retain the previous arrangement of giving rations as Aadhaar-based distribution is becoming a hindrance for people in obtaining commodities through the fair price shops, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said last Tuesday. The decision was taken in the cabinet meeting chaired by CM Arvind Kejriwal.