Ration shops to be fully computerised by '19: Government

NEW DELHI: The targets to computerise the public distribution system by installing electronic point of sale ( ePoS) devices at all fair price shops by March 2019 to check pilferage and plug leakages, food minister Ram Vilas Paswan told Rajya Sabha on Friday.

The government has started three pilot projects linking the PDS with Aadhar card under direct benefit transfer scheme in Puducherry, Chandigarh and in urban areas of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and, depending upon its success, it will be extended across the country to help remove corruption in PDS, Paswan said.

Paswan said ePOS costs around Rs 20,000 and there are different provisions to install them as states can also do so by buying such devices. He said a total sum of Rs 884 crore has been earmarked and the Centre will spend a total of Rs 879 crore while states will spend Rs 393 crore under the scheme.

The minister said depending upon the success of the pilot project, the DBT for food grains will be introduced.