Delhi govt to digitise ration distribution in fair price shops

In order to bring a reform in the ration distribution system, the Delhi government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Bharat Electronic for supplying electronic point of sale (ePOS) devices for ration distribution.

The Delhi government will provide ePOS machines to distributors, which will help monitor the proper distribution and proper payment in ration shops.

The computerised ePOS system is frequently used in shops and facilitates electronic transactions.

The machines are aimed at decreasing chances of corruption in ration distribution.

Of late, the government has received many complaints of irregular issuance of ration cards.

A government source said that many of the rations cards issued are being used by FPS dealers, who use these ration cards to hold the items and increase the price later.

Acting on complaints from ration beneficiaries, the Delhi Government on Friday continued raids at non-compliant fair price shops (FPS) at various places in the city.

Delhi Food Minister Imran Husaain visited two ration shops in Sagarpur area and seized 29 ration cards.

"I always keep a note of every complaint against the offices and officers in my department" said Hussain.

A day before the raid, the minister had told Millennium Post: "I will continue visiting the ration shops and will not tolerate any corruption."

On Friday morning, Hussain directed officials that he will visit the shops.

A source form the government said that he also received complaints against non-issuance of ration cards by FPS owners.

While inspecting the shops on Friday, Hussain also checked the ration cards of many beneficiaries. Senior officials of the Food department accompanied him in the visit.

Earlier, on Wednesday, Hussain had inspected erring FPSs in the city, resulting in suspension of licenses of two FPS in Mangolpuri area and registeration of FIR against one.

"I received a lot of complaints against these shop owners and when I visited I found that it is true.

When the local women complained that these people misbehave with them, I informed the officials that I will visit the place immediately," Hussain had said.

Meanwhile, Delhi Tourism Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam also visited the ration shops in his Assembly constituency.