IIM-A student, BCG to improve PDS

Conduct pilot project in Orissa along with UN, Govt of India.

After an Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) faculty member submitted a working paper on a single national ID formula, an IIM-A student is working on integration and preparation of fool proof ration card with Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

BCG has initiated a pilot project along with United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP), Government of India and Government of Orissa in order to improve the public distribution system (PDS) and reduce pilferage. "The government incurs losses worth Rs 16,000 crore due to pilferage in PDS every year. Around 400 million people avail the PDS of which 250 million people belong to the below poverty line (BPL) category. BCG intends to lessen the pilferage in PDS by way of integrating member information," said Srijan Pal Singh, an IIM-A student who is part of the project with BCG.

Under the pilot project being conducted in Raigarh, Orissa, the student assisted BCG in scanning finger prints and iris for preparing biometric cards for a population of around 10 lakhs. "The group selected Raigarh for the pilot project since 80 per cent of the population is illiterate and lives below poverty line. Also, the region is facing severe irregularities in the form of floods, riots and Naxal movements. While I worked full time during my summer internship with BCG, now I am involved part-time as the project nears completion," added Singh.

BCG intends to complete scanning of fingerprints and iris of the locals by December 2008. Once scanned, the group alongwith its partners will prepare biometric cards which will be filtered through a super computer to avoid duplications.

Singh said that the members will be handed out individual biometric cards alongwith food coupons under the PDS. Once successful, the project could be implemented in other parts of the country by the government.

"BCG is also thinking about installing vending or food dispensing machines at PDS counters which could be availed through these biometric cards by the beneficiaries. The pilot project is likely to get over by early 2010," said Singh.

The project is entirely funded by WFP, while BCG is working as a consultant on a pro bono basis, added Singh.