Delhi government halts Aadhaar-based ration distribution

New Delhi, Feb 20 : Delhi will retain the previous arrangement of giving out rations as Aadhaar-based distribution is becoming a hindrance for people in obtaining commodities through the fair price shops, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Tuesday.

The decision was taken in the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, said that the implementation of the electronic Point of Sale (e-PoS) devices by the Ration Department was "different" from the decision that Delhi Cabinet took last month of making the ration distribution in all 2,254 fair price shops online.

The Aadhaar-based e-PoS machines use biometric identification to ensure that ration card-holders get their allotted share of foodgrains.

"The faulty implementation of the system caused huge problems for the people in the city. They were not able to get their ration. 

"This system will be put to halt and we will continue the distribution like the previous arrangement so there is no hindrance for the public to get commodities," he said.

Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash has been ordered to get cabinet note of Doorstep-Delivery within a week so the scheme can be implemented in other two to three months, Sisodia added.