Blue Ration Cards to be replaced with e-POS system across Punjab to weed out bogus beneficiaries

Chandigarh, January 24: With an aim to eliminate the widespread corruption linked to the controversial blue ration cards, the Punjab Government has taken a massive decision to cover the entire state with the Electronic Point of Sale (e-POS) system by March 31, 2018.

 

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday announced that the state government will cover the entire state with the Electronic Point of Sale (e-POS) system by March 31, 2018, thus eliminating the widespread corruption linked to the controversial blue ration cards. The decision mainly aims at bringing transparency and accountability in the Public Distribution System (PDS).

CM Captain Amarinder Singh said that the move will help weed out all the bogus beneficiaries who have issued ration cards, thus ensuring fair distribution of ration to the eligible and genuine beneficiaries through the fair prices shops in the state.

The Chief Minister also expressed the confidence that, besides the elimination of bogus/ineligible cardholders, the consumer-friendly new system would also help curb pilferage of food grains. “By ending the era of paper ration cards, it will also facilitate a social audit of pro-poor schemes, thereby ensuring that the needy and eligible beneficiaries get their allocated quantity of ration in a fair and transparent manner,” he pointed out.

An official spokesperson disclosed after the high-level meeting that the e-POS system was already launched as a pilot project in SAS Nagar (Mohali), where it has so far benefitted 34,485 beneficiaries. However, it will be extended to Patiala, Mansa and Fatehgarh Sahib on January 26. Thereafter, it will be expanded to cover the other districts by 31st March 2018.