Dark side of digital ration distribution

Srinagar, Dec 15: A cutting-edge biometric authentication system deployed to combat ration theft in Kashmir has instead exposed critical administrative weaknesses, with several storekeepers’ shortages in the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department turning food distribution into a gruelling ordeal for residents.

Long, serpentine queues at Public Distribution System (PDS) depots have become a daily reality, disproportionately burdening elderly citizens, women, and working professionals seeking their essential food supplies.

The biometric system, requiring Aadhaar-based fingerprint verification to allocate ration, has slowed down the process due to limited manpower.

Storekeepers, tasked with managing more than one ration depot, struggle to promptly serve the increasing number of consumers.

At the Soura ration depot, a single storekeeper handles operations for two depots, resulting in long queues and irregular service.

“The storekeeper comes only on Saturdays and Sundays, which means I have to take leave from work to get ration,” complained Bilal Ahmad, a resident. “If each depot had a dedicated storekeeper, the process would be much smoother, and people wouldn’t have to suffer like this.”

The issue is particularly challenging for the elderly and women, who often endure long waits in harsh weather conditions.

“Standing for hours in line for biometric verification is exhausting, especially during winter,” said Zainab, a resident of Habak. “The government needs to fix this system urgently to ease our difficulties.”

A senior official from the FCS&CA Department acknowledged the problem, citing manpower shortages as a primary cause.

“There is indeed a severe shortage of storekeepers in the department, leading to a single storekeeper being assigned multiple depots,” he said.

The FCS&CA official said that the biometric system, while essential for transparency, requires time and precision, further slowing the ration distribution process.

“The process takes longer because fingerprint impressions must match, and in some cases, the elderly struggle with failed biometric authentication due to worn-out fingerprints,” he said.

Director FCS&CA Department, A R War confirmed the manpower crunch, attributing it to a wave of retirements that has left numerous posts vacant.

“We are aware of the inconvenience being caused to the public due to the dual burden on storekeepers. We will soon on fair shops which will reduce the burden,” he said.

The department is reportedly exploring technological solutions to streamline the biometric system.

However, no concrete timeline has been provided for their implementation.

Residents are demanding urgent measures to address the crisis.

Suggestions include deploying additional storekeepers, assigning dedicated personnel to each depot, and setting up alternative systems to expedite biometric verification.

“We appreciate the government’s effort to ensure transparency, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of basic convenience,” said Farooq Ahmad of Nowshera. “The process needs to be simplified so people can access ration without unnecessary delays.”