PDS focus should be on people, not fingerprints

In certain circles of Jharkhand, a newly-minted term has become the source of heartburn and more — PoS-able. It refers to whether or not one’s fingerprints match on the PoS (point of sale) biometric readers in ration shops. Those whose fingerprints match, access their allotted ration. For those whose fingerprints don’t match, life becomes ‘imPoS-able’. 

According to an ongoing study by Ranchi University and IIT Delhi, led by economists Jean Dreze and Reetika Khera, while 85 per cent of Jharkhand’s beneficiaries report receiving their rations (either because they or a family member is lucky enough to be PoS-able), 15 per cent