What is Aadhaar enabled Public Distribution System (AePDS-Assam)?

Introduction

Social welfare measures need to be put in place like subsidized meals and items made available for the uplift of groups and sections of society who have been deprived from every social popularity. In India, the general public Distribution System has been an vital lifeline for millions, where essentials are made to be had at a miles lower priced fee. but, the system has long been plagued with issues like mismanagement, leakages, and inclusion errors. The newly initiated Aadhaar Enabled Public Distribution machine (AePDS), a flagship scheme via government of India, targets to deal with the above problems and make sure that meals distribution is an awful lot transparent, efficient and inclusive.

This system, well known as the Public Distribution System, plays a significant role in India as it provides food for many. New technologies have been added over the years to improve the functionality and openness of various systems. One such newer technology is Aadhar Enabled Public Distribution System (AePDS). This article focuses on AePDS in Assam, its objectives, features, and impact on the people.

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Aadhaar Enabled Public Distribution System (AePDS)

AePDS is a restructured form of the traditional PDS that allows the beneficiaries to obtain their entitled food grates and other subsidies using biometric authentication. The scheme was launched for the primary time in 2013 below the National Food Security Act (NFSA) to hit upon leakages, ghost beneficiaries, and corrupt practices all through the distribution system. The gadget additionally makes use of Aadhaar-the unique 12-digit identification range allotted to every person of India based totally on their biometric and demographic facts.

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Objectives of AePDS-Assam

1. To give out food rations in time to the genuine and eligible card-holders

2. This is how you create a 100% foolproof PDS system: no hoarding, no stock diversion, no corruption.

3. To track the movement of PDS stock, from the FCI godown to the fair price shop and ultimately to the consumer, a robust monitoring system is essential.

4. The goal is to improve service delivery through online, real-time transactions.

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Benefits of AePDS-Assam

To the public / beneficiary:

• To empower beneficiary
• Reduced waiting time for service delivery.
• To create transparency.
• Reducing the number of trips of beneficiaries.
• To weed out poor performing fair price shop dealers.

To the fair price shop dealer:

• Change in behavior of the fair price shop personnel.
• Dignity
• There is no need to oblige any kind of obligations from any part.

To the Government:

• Huge savings which can be ploughed back for the further
• development of PDS system as well as enhancing commission to
• the fair price shop dealers etc.,
• To reduce diversion.

Pre implementation scenario:

• Manual allotment – dynamic key register
• The stock deliveries of route officers were not monitored in real-time.
• Real beneficiary or not?
• No tracking of stock distribution
• Incomplete manual records/ stock details or no billings at all
• Huge leakage / pilferage.
• Improper calculation of closing balance
• Routine inspections with incomplete data
• Incorrect weighment

Post implementation scenario:

• Addressed the concerns of dealers & beneficiaries
• Accuracy in closing balance and allotment
• Route officer delivery monitored online.
• Information to card holders on delivery of goods at FPS
• Essential commodities to real beneficiaries only.
• Savings to Govt. exchequer
• Provision to enter grievance through ePOS
• Stock visibility
• Mobile Apps for monitoring the stock availability.

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Steps to Apply for Aadhaar Enabled Public Distribution System (AePDS) in Assam

Step 1: Verify Eligibility

Only citizens of Assam who are identified under the Nation Food Security Act  (NFSA) or State Food Security Act (SFSA) can check in. Additionally, owning an Aadhaar card is mandatory to link with the PDS ration card.

Step 2: Gather Necessary Documents

Before intending with filling out the application form, please make certain you have got the following documents with you:

1.Aadhaar card – Required for each family member. it’s far very crucial for linking the Aadhaar variety with the ration card.
2. Evidence of residence – application bills, voter identification playing cards, or property files may be taken for proof.
3. Proof of identification – Any of the following: Aadhaar card, using license, passport.
4. Current Ration Card – If already available, Aadhaar desires to be updated as properly.

Step 3: Online Registration

The straightforward way to sign up for Aadhaar-Enabled Public Distribution device in the state of Assam can be carried out on-line. It has the subsequent steps:

1.Visit the reliable website of the food and Civil components branch, Assam, or the respective country PDS portal.
2. Click the “observe for Ration Card” phase or the dedicated AePDS portal.
3. Fill out the software form with your personal details and family facts appropriately.
4. Upload scanned copies of the needful files ensuring they’re clean and legible.
5. Double-take a look at submitted records and upload other kinds if required.
6. Finally, submit the utility form on line.

Step 4: Physical Verification

The online software makes the entire method plenty simpler, however you could nonetheless want to do a physical verification at your nearby places of work. So, make certain to be gift at the appointed date for verification, which might encompass:

1.Verifying your documents against the originals.
2. Verifying your residence and eligibility for the PDS.
3. Note: This may differ according to the criteria of the district and the present instructions.

Step 5: Enrollment and Distribution

Once verified and approved, you will get your new or updated ration card attached with the Aadhaar-Enabled Public Distribution System. Following are the benefits that you would be enjoying:

1.Your ration card will be attached to the Aadhaar number(s) of the family members, giving you very tight and direct benefits.
2. You can now visit a designated Fair Price Shop (FPS) and collect your ration as per what has been entitled to you through either the National Food Security Act or State Food Security Scheme.
3. Authentication during the distribution process might require biometric verification (fingerprint scan), ensuring that there are no leakages or diversions.

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Features of AePDS-Assam

The Aadhaar-enabled public distribution system is very systematic and transparent in Assam. It comprises:

1. Unique biometric identification: For collecting food grains at the fair price shop, the beneficiaries will be required to present an Aadhaar card and undergo biometric authentication. Such verification would limit access to food subsidies for eligible persons only.

2. Live transaction data record: The AePDS-Assam system records current status transactions for collection in a central repository. The data is available for the use of the state government for further planning, monitoring as well as reporting.

3. Automated payment: The AePDS-Assam system provides direct payment of benefits through the Direct Benefit Transfer mechanism with the beneficiaries’ bank accounts linked to it.

4. Beneficiary listing Management: The system provides for continuous updating of lists of beneficiaries so that only the eligible continue receiving the benefits.

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The Importance of Aadhaar Enabled Public Distribution System (AePDS) in Assam

1. Mitigation of Corruption and Phasing Out Ghost Beneficiaries:
The most important aspect in AePDS is its capability to remove the practice of corruption, ghost beneficiaries, and duplication from the Poor Public Distribution System. Before AePDS was put in place, a very large chunk of benefits was lost because of mismanagement and corruption. With Aadhaar linking now, it is able to find and almost eliminate duplicate and ineligible beneficiaries, ensuring that benefits actually reach the intended people.

2. Ensuring Transparency:
AePDS has made the entire system transparent by affording a point from where beneficiaries can check information regarding their rights and monthly distribution records and even the rations accumulated on their ration cards. Such information protects the beneficiary from being exploited by some middlemen, who used to play havoc with the system before the implementation of Aadhaar.

3. Facilitate Distribution:
Aadhaar-based biometric authentication ensures the presence of the beneficiary in the issuing time by this automated process, reducing the misdistribution. Thus, wastage is reduced, and efficiency can actually be attained. Besides, handle adding new beneficiaries (new ration cards holders) much better, as this will move the entry of new beneficiaries from a purely manual process to automatic with lesser chances for errors.

4. Promoting financial Inclusion:
AePDS attached the digital payments system with Aadhaar Pay and Aadhaar Enabled bank bills (AEBA) bringing a paradigm shift in India’s subsidy device of foodgrains by way of at once crediting them to financial institution accounts of beneficiaries in place of cash bills at PDS stores. This, in turn, initiated the route of digitalization in transactions and thereby inclusive finance in Assam.

5. Disbursement of more Social Welfare advantages:
in addition, the Aadhaar-based totally device makes the linking of extra welfare advantages dealing with scholarships and pensions with the PDS possible, for this reason optimizing their delivery through a greater effective implementation of more than one social welfare packages by using the government.

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Impact and Challenges

AePDS-Assam has many merits but has struggled and faced criticism as well. Reports have raised concerns of privacy of data, biometric authentication may prove ineffective in the rural areas, as well as exclusion of marginalized and vulnerable communities, who do not have an Aadhaar card.

1. Data Privacy and Security

Aadhaar’s PDS connection has been debated on data privacy and safety. It also needs to securely store the biometric data it collects, as sharing that sensitive information can lead to data breaches and misuse.

2. Rural Biometric Breakdown

In certain remote parts of Assam, consistent supply of electricity and internet connectivity is an issue which may interfere with the working of Aadhaar-based biometric systems. This, in turn, leads them to identification failures that result in the harrowing experience of recipients.

3. Exclusion of certain marginalized sections

Certain marginalized sections, like homeless people and minority populations, cannot have Aadhaar, and becomes cut off from the benefits of the PDS. This continues to create further divides in the already inequitable society.

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Conclusion

The AePDS-Assam is indeed an important step in modernizing the PDS and ensuring food security in India. Through technological adoption, the system has been able to plug loopholes, improve transparency and streamline the distribution process. The challenge of data privacy, biometric authentication in rural areas, and exclusion of marginalised groups, have to be discussed and addressed so that the benefits of AePDS trickle down to all sections of the society. As such, innovation is an important part of the system moving forward, but we must keep an eye on our welfare programs and access to them.

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