The document proposes implementing an Electronic Public Distribution System (EPDS) using biometric identification to address vulnerabilities in India's existing Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). The EPDS would incorporate fingerprint authentication for user accounts and record transaction data on read-only memory CDs submitted monthly for verification. This would help curb corruption by FPS dealers and illegal diversions by maintaining an accurate digital record of commodity distribution. The one-time capital required for implementation is estimated at 4% of annual food subsidy allocation, which could help ensure no citizens go hungry.

1. AN EFFECTIVE PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
USING
BIO-METRIC IMPRESSION

2. Existing System
Present Public Distribution System implementing in our country
was TPDS(Targeted Public Distribution System).
Under TPDS, primary and most essential goods are provided to
eligible citizens of the country, based on their poverty severity.
These goods are provided at fixed prices , which are fixed by
government which can be affordable by common man.
Government agencies & Shops are established for this distribution .

3. Continues….
These agencies &shops have to work under strict government
supervision, regulation and control.
The commodities to be distributed , quantity and price of the product
is decided by the government.
All this activity is intendant by Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and
Public Distribution Department.
Distribution of food grains to poor people throughout the country is
managed by state governments. As of date there are about 5 million
FPS(Fair Price Shops )across India.
FPS shops are commonly known as Ration Shops.

4. Facts & Figures
Over 2-fold increase in allocations for food subsidy since FY 2005-06(in crores)
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
0

5. Facts & Figures….
As budget allocated to TDPS is increasing year by year,
hunger deaths should reduce ,but 25% of the hunger deaths
in world is from India. WHY?

6. Vulnerabilities with existing
system
With TPDS(Targeted Public Distribution System), gave rise to
corruption in department .
TPDS also fails in the process of extricating the poor from
those , who are less needy.
Fair price shop owners have been found to create large number
of bogus cards to sell food grains in the open market.
Many FPS dealers resort to malpractice ,illegal diversions of
products to black market.

7. Continues….
These malpractices make BPL(Below Poverty Line) families
inaccessible to nutritious and low price food.
Though the off-take per household has shown some improvement
under TPDS, yet only about 57% of the BPL (Below Poverty Line)
households are covered by it.
Leakages and diversions of subsidized grains are large and only about
42% of subsidized grains issued from the Central Pool reaches the target
group.
Regional allocation and coverage of FPS are unsatisfactory and the core
objective of price stabilization of essential commodities has not met.

8. Proposed Solution
All the loop holes were created due to loss of proper authorization and
authentication.
So, We use some tracking system about the distribution of goods.
A device named EPDS(Electronic Public Distribution System) is created.
 This EPDS is incorporated with a Bio-Metric system , under its surveillance
each user maintains separate account of transactions with finger print of the
user as the credential to his account.
As the device is inbuilt with CD-drive which is compatible with on only
ROM(Read only memory) CD’s ,which captures all the information given
by users and saves it.

9. Continues….
Those CD’s are to submitted to local district collectorate office for
verification, about the supply of goods.
Commodities are not delivered to FPS dealer for following month ,
until he/she submits the repot CD of previous month.
As the CD’s are ROM type there is no chance of editing the data . And
each CD has unique ID ,change are morphing of CD is not possible.
If the place is well structured with Internet connections,EPDS(Electronic
Public Distribution System) is synchronized with distributed database.
With this synchronization, data is instantly updated in database , which
can be then compared with actual intake of the commodities.

10. Implementation View
If any malpractice is spotted, dealership of the FPS dealer is cancelled.
Thus an effective Public Distribution system can be implemented and thus a
lot of public money is saved ,which can be invested in providing sophisticated
facilities to citizens .

11. Social and Financial Issues
Monetary funds invested on manufacturing process of this EPDS is one
time investment.
Financial Year (2011-12) approx 60,573 crores is allotted for public
Distribution System from which 4%(2500 crores ) of capital is enough to
complete the project.
Surely this is not too much to allocate to ensure that no one goes
hungry in what should be a civilized society.
In social issues ,EPDS is easily accessible by novice user also as it will
be replica of EVM(Electronic Voting Machine),which was already used
by people in elections.
Thus , we conclude this system as a system with low implementation
issues.

12. References…
E-portal of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public
Distribution Department , India .
GHI(Global Health Index) headquarters annual articles,
New York, USA.
CAG(Comptroller and Auditor General of India), annual report on
Public Distribution System.