Thumb print-based PDS soon

A family can get its foodgrain quota by registering thumb impression

Food and Civil Supplies Minister R Ashok said on Thursday that the system will be in place in four to five months, and will ensure that no entitled family was denied their quota of food grains in fair price shops.

Speaking after inaugurating the rice mela and distribution of rice and wheat at subsidised price, in Bangalore, the minister said officers of the department had been working on introducing the system which would involve recording the thumb impressions of every member of the entitled family.

The family need not bring the card to purchase foodgrain. Registering their thumb impression would enough be enough for them to receive their quota. The minister said the bio-metric system would check duplication of names in the list of beneficiaries.

The shop keepers at fair price shops cannot deny the grains to any entitled family. If any family had not bought its quota of grains, the grains would go back to the godowns. The central office in Bangalore can track the stocks at all fair price shops any point of time, making the system foolproof.

Rice mela

The minister inaugurated the rice mela at National College grounds. Possession of photo identity cards issued by the government or any company can enable the buyer to purchase 50 kg each of wheat and rice at Rs 9.50 and Rs 13 per kg respectively in six months (August 2010 to January 2011). The minister said the programme would be extended for the next six months after January 2011.

Hundreds of people from different places of the City purchased the grains at the stalls set up by the department. The public can purchase the grains between 10 am and 5 pm till August 29.

Besides, they can purchase the grains in godowns of Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Limited in the City.

To purchase

Shanthi Nagar:
2224138
Banashankari:
26690893
Vijayanagar:
9448720126
Binny Mill:
9980454963
Yeshwanthpura: 9632454890
Kaval Byrasandra: 9980815505
Lingarajapura:
9972931151
K G Halli:
9481482645
At National College grounds (till August 29)