Soon ration card holders of New Delhi and Rohini would be free to buy their ration from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) in these circles with the Delhi Government working on the FPS portability project. The Food & Consumer Affairs has decided to automatise the operations of all the Fair Price Shops and put in place the facility of biometric authentication of beneficiaries before disbursing ration.
"The Department has decided to take up a project for automating the operations of all the FPS. This will bring transparency in their functioning and enable us to put the information about sale of ration to beneficiaries in public domain. There will be facility of biometric authentication of beneficiaries before disbursing ration. This will effectively curb any attempt of diversion of foodgrains by the FPS licensee," said SS Yadav, Secretary-cum-Commissioner of the Department of Food & Supplies of Delhi Government.
A pilot project will be taken up within a month wherein 50 FPS will be provided tablet PCs with biometric authentication facility and printers. "These FPS will be in circle 40 (New Delhi) and Circle 13 (Rohini). Once the facility of biometric authentication will be set up in all the 50 FPS, people of these areas would be free to buy their ration from any FPS in these circles," said Yadav.
Funds for the project will be provided by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Project report has been submitted to UIDAI and is likely to be approved soon, Yadav said.
Implementation of the project will be through CSE e-Governance Services India ltd. It will facilitate provision of banking, insurance, ticketing, bill collection and other services through FPS, which will improve their viability. Incentive-based financial model will be used in this project wherein FPS licensees will be given monitory incentive for per kilo ration sold through online system.