March 22, 2022
Aparupa Poddar’s speech on the problems in Biometric Identification of the beneficiaries under National Food Security Act
The implementation of nationwide portability of ration cards through “One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC)” scheme, is an endeavour of the Department of Food & Public Distribution, Government of India to empower about 81 crore beneficiaries. This plan has been launched under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, which aims
to ensure that anyone can take his/her share of foodgrains from any district of any state in the country. One Nation One Ration card involves identification of beneficiaries through biometric authentication at fair price shops. But it is a common feature that old age people, disabled and manual labourers suffer due to change in biometrics like fingerprints due to natural reasons. Due to these reasons which mainly include the use of fingerprint authentication in ration shops, many needy people have been unable to access their food entitlements either because their fingerprints are worn out, or because of patchy internet and machine failure to connect to the database. I request the Government to allow an offline method of verification on the lines of ration card issued by State Governments like West Bengal for such beneficiaries who are being deprived due to change in biometrics as a result of their age and work.
