State tops in PDS digitisation

State tops in PDS digitisation

Pune: The Maharashtra state that started the process of digitisation of its public food distribution system (PDS) just months ago has topped the list of states which have initiated this process.

Girish Bapat, Minister of Food and Civil Supplies said the State has surged ahead in number of online transactions taking place through e-PoS (Point of Sale) machines - through which credit and debit card transactions are carried out - installed at more than 43,000 fair price shops across the State.

He said the process of digitisation of food supply chain has gained momentum in the State. Within three weeks the installation of e-PoS machines will be done and the State will march towards total digitisation of PDS system. Sources in Food and Civil Supply Ministry said this scheme will enable removal of bogus ration cards and better targeting of food subsidy and imply checks on leakages and diversions in the system.

The number of online transactions crossed the 45-lakh transactions mark in a month, said Bapat. His ministry is simultaneously working to achieve end-to-end digitisation of its food supply chain. This involves monitoring online the downloading of foodgrain at Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns, transport to taluka-level godowns and distribution of foodgrains to fair price shops and to end-beneficiaries.

Due to this system, leakages and inexplicable delays in distribution are immediately pulled up for enquiry, said a top level source from the ministry.

As far as Pune division is concerned the work of installation of ePoS machines has been completed in Kolhapur. In rural parts and urban parts of Pune district, installation of ePoS machines will be completed soon.

About the Project
- The Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) was started by Union Ministry of Food & Public Distribution.
- This scheme comprises digitisation of ration cards, computerisation of supply-chain management, installation of ePoS devices at fair price shops and issuance of foodgrains through biometric authentication.
- All States/ UTs have been requested to put Aadhaar numbers in ration card database.

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