Lok Sabha Question No. 2222 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Expansion of ePoS System
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Tharaniventhan M S

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2222

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 12TH MARCH, 2025

## EXPANSION OF EPOS SYSTEM

## 2222. SHRI THARANIVENTHAN M S:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state :

- (a) the current status of the implementation of the electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) system at Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in Tamil Nadu and the number of FPSs in the State that have been successfully automated using the ePoS system so far;
- (b) whether the introduction of ePoS system improve the transparency, efficiency  and accountability of  the Public  Distribution  System (PDS) in Tamil Nadu and if  so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  measures  being taken by the  Government to ensure  that the  ePoS  system functions effectively  across both  urban and rural areas and the beneficiaries are able to access their entitled foodgrains and other subsidized items without difficulty;
- (d) whether any challenges have been faced in the implementation of the ePoS system at FPSs such as technical issues, connectivity  problems or lack of digital  literacy and if  so, the manner in  which the Government  is addressing these challenges; and
- (e) the plans of  the  Government for  expanding the  ePoS system to  cover  all FPSs in Tamil Nadu?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

(a) &  (b): Under the technology driven PDS reforms, at present, all  34,805 Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in the State of  Tamil  Nadu have been automated by installing  ePoS devices for  seamless distribution  of  foodgrains  in  a  transparent manner (electronically)  through biometric/ Aadhaar authentication of beneficiaries. It  improved the transparency,  efficiency and accountability in distribution of foodgrains in Public Distribution System (PDS).

(c) & (d): To ensure the availability of internet/connectivity  for ePoS devices at FPSs in  remote locations /  shadow/no network areas in  some States, the Department of Telecommunications has been requested to resolve the internet/connectivity related issues. Further, the beneficiaries are empowered to lift  their entitled foodgrains under One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) from  any FPS having operational ePoS device without  facing any internet/connectivity related challenges. The ePoS devices have a fbnctionality to work in offline  mode with  limited/ no internet connectivity. The ePoS devices have to come periodically  to network  area to sync the offline  ePoS data with  PDS online  system.

The process of distributing foodgrains through ePoS devices is very simple an.d does not require any special digital  literacy among beneficiaries to  lift their entitled foodgrains through  electronic transactions. Further, States/UTs 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.

(e): At present, all 34,805 Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in the State of Tamil Nadu have been automated by installing ePoS devices for seamless distribution of foodgrains in a transparent manner (electronically) through biometric/ Aadhaar authentication of benetlciaries

$8888