Rajasthan: Major relief to beneficiaries, they will get ration anyhow

The state government has given a big relief to the beneficiaries of the food security act in the state. The people who are not able to get the ration because their biometric validation is not getting done given by thumb impression can get ration by either eye scanner or by mobile OTP option. 

Food and civil supplies minister Ramesh Meena has informed that now if the biometric authentication is not getting done by thumb impression, then the beneficiary can get this done by eye scanner and get himself authenticated. 

Officials informed that if in case the biometric authentication by eyes is also not possible, then the fair price shop cannot refuse to give ration to the beneficiary. Instead, an OTP on the registered mobile will be generated and ration will be given to them. The government has also made arrangements if the beneficiary doesn’t even have a mobile number.

In such cases where the beneficiary is not having a mobile then if he is identified by 5 officials namely district supply officer, sub-divisional officer, block development officer executive officer and enforcement inspector, then he will be given the ration.

In 2016, the state government had decided to give food ration to the beneficiaries by using POS machine. These were enabled with Aadhar and Bhamashah card and in this system, beneficiary has to provide his thumb impression to authenticate himself. 

However, many senior citizens, elderly people and people who work as labourers and workers places other than their hometown faced troubles. In many cases, the POS machines did not recognise the thumb impression of elderly people and they had to go from pillar to post to get the ration. The government officials informed that the idea is that no eligible beneficiary should remain without ration and therefore, these measures are being taken.