ANANTAPUR: In an effort to bring down irregularities in distribution of subsidised rice through the Public Distribution System (PDS), the state government had decided to introduce the Bio Metric System (BMS).As a pilot project, it is being introduced in three districts, Anantapur,East Godavari and Ranga Reddy districts. The main objective is to ensure that there are no irregularities at all in implementation of Rs 1 per kg rice scheme.The new system is being planned in such a way that officials, at a click of the mouse, in Hyderabad can access details about what is happening at village/ward level to state level, pertaining to PDS, status of essential commodities with fair price shops, district level stocks of commodities in warehouses etc. The programme has been designed by the National Informatics Centre. Under the Bio Metric System, ration card holders will be issued smart cards, which are more or less based on Adhar Cards. The information pertaining to ration card holders, which was fed in databases with revenue authorities, will be linked to the civil supplies department. Utilising those cards, ration would be supplied. In the district, Anantapur Urban and Kannekal mandal were selected for the survey. Already information given for Adhar cards is being utilised and Civil Supplies Department on its part is keeping track of the movement of commodities. It is still trying to gauge the efficiency of dealers.However, officials are yet to finalise plans for issue of smart cards and how to utilise the same at Fair Price Shop level. ``What is being contemplated is provision of smart card reader at fair price shops, swiping the card to open an account for ration card holders, noting of ration amount to which member of family holding ration card. Once the data has been entered into computer, it will be available to officials online,’’ said Anantapur, DSO, C V Krishna Reddy. Meanwhile, a large section of people are apprehensive about the entire setup and are choosing to wait and watch.
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