Odisha Government Stops Usage Of Biometrics For PDS Distribution

Bhubaneswar: The Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department (FSCWD) said on Friday that it has stopped the use of Aadhaar aunthentication for PDS distribution in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

To prevent the spread of coronavirus, the government wants to reduce surface contacts from the same source, Minister for Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Rajendra Pratap Swain said.

“In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, biometric mode of Aadhaar authentification using finger print scanner and IRIS device has been exempted during distribution of PDS ration through e-PoS device at Fair Price Shops until further orders,” Swain said.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Odisha touched 16701 on Saturday with 591 new cases from 25 districts in the last 24 hours. With 86 deaths and 11330 recoveries, Odisha now has 5259 active coronavirus cases.