Odisha excludes biometric Aadhaar verification from PDS
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BHUBANESWAR: Biometric Aadhaar authentication using fingerprint and iris scanner will no longer be needed while distributing PDS commodities through e-POS devices.
Food supplies and consumer welfare secretary V V Yadav issued instructions to this effect to all collectors. They have been asked to issue the necessary instructions to field-level functionaries. Instructions have also been issued to ensure social distancing while distribution of PDS commodities.
The decision has been taken keeping in mind the rise of Covid cases in the state, said a senior government official.
The government has provided advance ration of three months (April-June) at one go to nearly 94 lakh households covered under the national and state food security schemes. Financial assistance of Rs 1,000 was also given to the beneficiaries.
Similarly, under the Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, food security beneficiaries have been receiving 5 kg rice per head for three months and 1 kg dal per family for three months free of cost.