Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister G.S. Bali stated here today that the Digital Ration Card project was part of much larger reform process of the Public Distribution System (PDS) and was being sponsored equally by the Central and State Governments. Presently, consumers across the State had been requested to verify their details that had been digitized by the department. He said the bank account details were also being collected for each household and it was a proactive step to collect additional details that might be required at a future date.
Reacting to the issue being raised regarding Aadhaar numbers, he said it had not been made mandatory under the Digital Ration Card project. He said that person who did not have Aadhaar number need not to give their number. However, if any person gets Aadhaar number later on, his number could fed into the Digital Ration Card database.
G.S Bali said Himachal Pradesh Government was not in favour of cash subsidy under PDS and it would carry on with the practice of providing foodgrains to the consumers through implementation of Point of Sale (PoS) machines.
He said that the Government of India had given an option to the States to either provide foodgrains or to provide cash subsidy so that the benefit under the PDS reach the real beneficiaries. He said Himachal Pradesh had opted for the PoS model subject to financial and technical feasibility which were being examined.
The Minister urged the people of the State should not pay heed to rumour mongering and cooperate the department in various reform processes under the PDS.
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