Lessons from UID: Govt pushes for biometric ration cards

To ensure elimination of bogus ration cards, the central government is pushing states to go for biometric ones, taking the help of unique identification (UID) numbers. States have been asked to take a lead in distributing biometric ration cards, as identification of beneficiaries for issuing ration cards is a state subject.

States like Gujarat, Haryana and Maharashtra have already launched pilot projects to make biometric ration cards. A senior food ministry official said a biometric ration card would be different from a regular one. It would have barcoded details of the beneficiary, with a picture of the head of the family. The card can be read at any ration shop through a machine that will then be matched with the fingerprint details of the beneficiary to eliminate duplication or misuse.

“What we have suggested is that as data on individual families is being collected for UID, the same can be done for biometric ration cards,” the official said, adding an integrated form, Know Your Resident Plus (KYR+), had to be filed by the beneficiary for biometric ration cards.

The first page of the form comprises details about the UID, while information related to the ration card has to be filled in by the beneficiary on the second page. The form has been adopted from Maharashtra.

The Union food ministry also plans to integrate details furnished for biometric ration cards into data available with state and district level warehouses of the Food Corporation of India and state governments. “This will help us to track the movement of foodgrain, right from a warehouse up to the final beneficiary,” the official said.

“Maximum numbers of states should be covered through biometric ration cards, for which the central government is willing to provide all possible support,” the official added.