The entre ration card database in all the States/UTs has been digitised. This information was given by the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

The Minister said that for bringing transparency and to check leakages & diversion of foodgrains, States/UTs have been asked to opt for any of the two models of Direct Benefit Transfer – Cash transfer of food subsidy into the bank account of beneficiaries or fair price shop (FPS) automation, which involves installation of Point of Sale (PoS) device at FPS, for authentication of beneficiaries and electronic capturing of transactions. The cash transfer of food subsidy is being implemented in 3 UTs namely Chandigarh, Puducherry and partially in Dadra & Nagar Haveli. For remaining areas, States/UTs have been requested to expedite the pace of FPS automation. Out of 5.32 lakh FPSs across the country, about 1.11 lakh FPSs have been automated.