Fair price shops to go cashless soon

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 19 

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday said people were being provided subsidised ration through 18.26 lakh digital ration cards so as to ensure that there was no pilferage and diversion in the public distribution system.

Stating this here, Thakur said all possible efforts were being made to ensure that the benefit of subsidy reached the genuine beneficiaries. 

“About 87 per cent ration cards have been linked with Aadhaar which has resulted in automatic cancellation of bogus ration cards and fake beneficiaries,” he added. 

This had reduced the pilferage of food items and reduction in the burden of subsidy on the government.

The Chief Minister said the cashless transaction at fair price shops was also underway and likely to be implemented shortly which would further facilitate consumers in getting ration from the shops. 

In order to educate and motivate the public about the Digital Ration Cards and Aadhaar seeding, video tutorials in Hindi had been posted in the transparency portal of the department at the website www.epds.co.in.

The Chief Minister  said consumers could obtain prints of their duplicate ration cards through the website.  

“Those not in possession of a ration card can get it made from the fair price shops,” he said. 

A toll free No 1967/1800-180-8026 at the ePDS Call Centre can help redress grievances of the public.