Rajasthan: Biometric verification must for ration from today

JAIPUR: The government functioning is gradually moving back to normal. From June 5, distribution of ration in the state will be done only after biometric verification through the point of sale (PoS) machines. There would be no offline distribution from June 5. The beneficiaries would have to follow social distancing norms.
Food and civil supplies minister Ramesh Meena said ration would be distributed from fair price shops only after biometric verification with PoS machine from June 5 to the beneficiaries of the National Food Security Scheme. All the transactions of ration distribution will be done after biometric verification, he said.
Meena said that to start biometric authentication again on PoS machine, social distancing, frequent hand washing and sanitising will be necessary to protect against Covid-19 pandemic. The guidelines issued by the central and state governments will have to be fully adhered, he said.
Meena said that fair price shopkeepers and workers working at the shop will inevitably have to wear masks at the time of ration distribution. Before the distribution of ration, it will be necessary to clean the fair price shop or the vehicle from where the ration is distributed. The beneficiary must also wear mask at a fair price shop. Also, to maintain social distancing, they should wait for their turn, he said.
Meena said that the fair price shopkeeper will have to sanitize daily before starting the PoS machine after which the beneficiary’s hands will also have to be sanitized before putting the thumb or fingerprint of the beneficiary on the PoS machine.