Aadhaar numbers edited to siphon off 45K quintal grain

LUCKNOW: The department of food and civil supplies has detected a scam under which many poor beneficiaries were deprived of their monthly ration for the last few months

As per report, the scamsters committed the fraud by tampering with the computerised system put in place to ensure transparency in the distribution of food under the National Food Security Act.

A preliminary departmental inquiry shows that the Aadhaar numbers of beneficiaries were edited in real time and fed with Aadhaar numbers of those who were not eligible. After illegally claiming the ration that belonged to someone else, the numbers were restored. The probe was ordered by commissioner, food and civil supply, Alok Kumar after he got some intelligence input.

THE MAXIMUM COMPLAINTS OF FRAUD HAD BEEN RECEIVED FROM ALLAHABAD FOLLOWED BY MEERUT AND GHAZIABAD.

“We have found that as many as 1,86,000 Aadhaar numbers were changed in July to claim the food grain against the Aadhaar holders that were not eligible to the subsidised food,” said Kumar over phone.

He said corrective measures were being taken and FIRs being lodged against those suspected to be involved in the racket.

Around 45,000 quintal of food (rice and wheat) is estimated to have been siphoned off in a month in 43 districts where the inquiry was conducted.An average of 25 kg of food is distributed to each priority (eligible) household every month.

The Aadhaar numbers, Kumar said, were suspected to have been changed and then corrected multiple times by a racket involving ration shop owners, middle-men and those running district computer centres.

Significantly, the fraud has been committed in cities where point of sale devices (PoS) has been installed at all the ration shops. Under the PoS, which are now being installed at rural PDS shops also, a beneficiary is given ration only after his thumb impression as given on the Aadhaar is verified. Sources said the maximum complaints had been received from Allahabad district followed by Meerut and Ghaziabad. Kumar said the scam had been detected in time and this might serve as an alert to other states as well.

“We have been able to unearth the fraud in time and now we will take all possible steps to make the delivery system corruption free,” he claimed.