18 August 2010ORISSA CHIEF MINISTER INAUGURATES JOINT PROJECT WITH WFP ON THE BIOMETRIC REGISTRATION OF FOOD BENEFICIARIES
RAYAGADA, ORISSA – In a move designed to enhance the food security of the poorest and the neediest and to check the pilferage in PDS, the Orissa State Government and the World Food Programme (WFP) have come together to design biometric based Targeted Public Distribution system.
The project, which will make the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) more robust, was inaugurated today in Rayagada district by Honourable Chief Minister of Orissa, Mr Naveen Patnaik.
The biometric ration cards, bar-coded coupons and smart cards, the distribution of which begins today, will drastically reduce the possibility of pilferage of essential commodities. The transaction between the beneficiary and the `Fair Price Shop’ owner will be made available on the Government website which will further enhance transparency in distribution, the Chief Minister said.
“With growing hunger and shrinking resources, accurate targeting of welfare programmes is the need of the hour. We are very proud of our partnership with the Orissa Government in our joint effort to enhance the efficiency of the TPDS,” said WFP India Representative Mihoko Tamamura.
“This project will ensure food goes only to those entitled to it, and will produce savings which, I am sure, will enable the state government to reach out to many more vulnerable people who urgently need help,” she said.
The biometrics based solution would bring the desired changes in the TPDS, the Minister, Food and Civil supplies, hoped. He urged upon the civil society to access the website developed for the project and put up their feedback and suggestions for further strengthening of the system. He also requested the Chief Minister to roll out the project to other districts in the State.
The new system captures the fingerprint, face and iris as biometrics indicators and a data base is made on this , on the basis of which Smart PDS cards and coupons are made. The biometric data of more than one lakh beneficiaries across the district have now been electronically recorded.
This biometric technology has not only helped in identifying and removing ghosts cards ( cards fraudently made in name of non existant users), but has also rooted out invalid cards, which were mor ethan 8000 in number in Rayagada Municipality alone and which were in circulation and putting significant strain on the TPDS.
Based on the results of this project, it is envisaged that next year, similar initiatives may be taken up in the other districts and urban areas of the state as well.
Among others the ceremony was graced by the MP, Koraput, MLAs of the district, the Food Secretary, Mr Ashok Meena and Mr Basanta Kishore Bal and Mr Himanshu S Bal from WFP. Mr Nitin Bhanudas Jawale, Collector, Rayagada offered the vote of thanks.
