Distribution of food entitlements to ration card holders in the electronic mode, known as ‘ePDS’, will become a reality in West Godavari district from March 1.
Joint Collector Pulipati Koteswara Rao took stock of preparations for the launch of the initiative at a joint meeting with officials of the Civil Supplies Department, members of consumer welfare associations and fair price shop dealers here on Thursday.
The electronic point of sale (ePOS) machine, a hand-held device, holds the key to the operation of ePDS. According to District Supplies Officer S. Sivasankar Reddy, when card-holders buy rations from FP shops, their ration card number and UID number will be uploaded on the ePOS. If the two numbers match, the beneficiaries need authenticating their finger prints for the sale to proceed. Mr. Reddy said a computerised data base of ration card-holders made it possible to track purchases online.
