e-PoS keeps PDS rice pilferage at bay; brings in transparency

Hyderabad: The e-PoS mechanism, which now covers almost all the Fair Price Shops (FPS) in the State, has saved Rs 645 crore from the beginning of its implementation. Each month’s closing balance is now strictly accounted for and the mechanism has been able to control pilferage and black marketing of PDS (Public Distribution System) rice, according to Civil Supply Department officials.

Following the decision taken by the Civil Supplies Department to distribute the commodities under PDS from 1st of each month till 15th, February month alone witnessed saving of Rs 66.68 crore. Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts were the first adopt the e-PoS in March 2016, where Rs 227 crore and Rs 142 crore respectively could be saved, they said. While for other 29 other districts, the implementation was in a phased manner. For instance, the last among the districts to implement ePoS mechanism were Adilabad, Komaram Bheem B Asifabad, Nirmal, Manchiryal, Nalgonda and Suryapet, where this technology was adopted in the month of February this year, they said.

“PDS rice of 1.75 lakh metric tons were being distributed among 85 lakh families are being distributed in the entire State. After the introduction of e-PoS system, surplus of 20,000 metric tons of rice is saved every month and the remaining rice is treated as closing balance,” said C V Anand, Commissioner, Civil Supplies Department.

Prior to the implementation of e-PoS system, ration dealers and traders supported each other in black marketing PDS rice. Even without giving rice to the beneficiaries, it was recorded that the rice was delivered to them. Some dealers used to issue less quantity to the beneficiaries and sell the remaining rice in the open market for higher price. The reasons were, every ration shop used to have bogus cards and a large number of Benami dealers where active.

“With the introduction of e-PoS machines, the misbehaviour and indiscipline of Fair Price Shop dealers has been fully controlled. Issuing commodities to the beneficiaries by recognising their fingerprints in biometric machines, irregularities have decreased to a large extent. It also could reduce commodity loss and loss in weight. Transparency in distribution has been attained,” added the official.

During the last two years, the total transactions crossed five lakh and total quantity saved during the period was 2.4 lakh metric tonnes. Every individual eligible family is provided with 6 kg of rice at Rs 1 per kg. For distributing rice at Rs 1 per kg, the government is spending Rs 27 per kg, bearing subsidy of Rs 26 per kg, according to Anand.