State mulls Irish PDS to reduce fake beneficiaries.

To streamline the Public Distribution System (PDS) and curb the pilferage of commodities, the State Government is mulling a plan to reduce the number of beneficiaries of PDS on the lines of Ireland.This was revealed by some officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, who were here to inquire into the circulation of ghost rations cards in Kendrapara district. To make the system perfect and to curb the circulation of 'ghost' beneficiaries, the ration cards for both APL and BPL category of beneficiaries are being refurbished similar to the popular model introduced in Ireland. Some of these cards have been issued on a trial basis in some parts of the backward Rayagada district under the World Food Programme.
If found suitable, the cards would be introduced in other parts of the State, informed the officials.
The new ration cards would have several new features that would stop the menace of unscrupulous practice of bogus cards and ghost beneficiaries. The model card would have all the details of the enlisted beneficiary, his dependant family members and other details.To stop manipulation of facts and misleading data, the model card would have eyelashes and fingerprints affixed and attached on it. Unlike the cards on circulation now, there would be no photograph of beneficiaries. The eyelashes and fingerprints are free from tampering, sources said.