Lok Sabha Question No. 108 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-07
Subject: Sensors at PDS Shops
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao, Rajeshbhai Naranbhai Chudasama

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

To BE ANSWERED ON

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.108 DECEMBER, 2022

## SENSORS AT PDS SHOPS

## 108. SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN: SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND

PUBLIC

- (a) whether the Government is planning to install biometric sensors at all PDS shops in the country as a part of One Nation One Ration Card scheme;
- (b) if so, the steps to be taken to ensure that such electronic equipment which   requires internet connections work   efficiently in remote    places having no internet connectivity;
- whether the Government has taken any measures to ensure access to ePoS as digital illiteracy would lead to inaccessibility of this equipment
- (c) to the general public; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

- (a): Under Public Distribution System (PDS) Reforms, the Department in November 2014 had issued implementation guidelines to all States/UTs for the installation of electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices with biometric scanners in all Fair Prices  Shops (FPSs) for transparent, efficient and ensured distribution of the subsidised foodgrains to the beneficiaries, covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), through digital transactions and as far as possible with biometric authentication of beneficiaries. So more than 5.33 Lakh (99.8%) of total 5.34 Lakh FPSs in the country are having ePoS devices: The availability of these devices with biometric authentication facilities at the FPSs in StateslUTs is a enabler of ration card portability under the One Nation One Ration Card (ONROC} plan for distribution of foodgrains to the beneficiaries from any FPS of their choice in the country: far, key

- (b): To ensure the availability of internetlconnectivity for ePoS devices at FPSs in remote locations shadowlno network areas in some States, a list of such FPS locations has been shared with the Department of Telecommunications to resolve the internetlconnectivity related issues. Further, with the availability of the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) plan in most States/UTs, the beneficiaries are empowered to lift their entitled foodgrains from any FPS having operational ePoS device without facing any internetlconnectivity related challenges.
- (c) & (d): The process of distributing foodgrains through ePoS devices is very simple and does not require any special digital   literacy among beneficiaries to lift their entitled foodgrains through electronic transactions: However, periodically trainings are provided to FPS dealers to use the ePos Besides, time to time trainings are also conducted for the StatelDistrict level officials and other field functionaries to ensure efficient and smooth technology driven PDS operations: Further, StateslUTs are advised to ensure that ePos printed transaction receipts are provided to all beneficiaries in local language; besides SMS are sent on their registered mobile numbers to ensure complete transparency in distribution process.