Module Developed by AePDS Team, Hyderabad, headed by Ms. Annapurna
JK News Today
Srinagar, September 11: The Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Jammu and Kashmir, in collaboration with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), has commenced ration transactions through the Aadhaar-based Facial Authentication Module at Fair Price Shops (FPSs). With this, Jammu and Kashmir has become the first Union Territory/State to operationalise facial authentication for drawing ration under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
The first transaction was carried out at the Nehru Park Sale Centre in the middle of Dal Lake, Srinagar, in the presence of Shri Saurabh Bhagat, IAS, Commissioner Secretary, FCS&CA; Shri Nazim Zai Khan, Director, FCS&CA; Shri Kunal Kothari, Director, UIDAI, J&K; Ms. Shaheena Khan, Joint Director; Shri Peerzada Ahtisham-ul-Haq, Financial Advisor; and Shri Shohab Latief, Assistant Director, besides other officers of the Department and UIDAI.
The module has been developed by the AePDS Team, Hyderabad, headed by Ms. Annapurna, and operationalised with the technical support of UIDAI. It verifies the beneficiary by matching a live facial image captured at the FPS with the facial data in the Aadhaar database.
The facility mainly benefits the elderly and persons engaged in manual labour, whose worn-out or unclear fingerprints often led to authentication failures at the point of distribution.
Beneficiaries can now authenticate through any of three modes:
- Biometric – fingerprint-based verification;
- OTP-based – One-Time Password; and
- Facial – Aadhaar-based facial recognition.
Speaking on the occasion, the Commissioner Secretary said the initiative makes the PDS more inclusive and ensures that no eligible beneficiary is denied ration due to the limitations of any single authentication mode. The Director said that the necessary arrangements are in place for smooth implementation of the module at Fair Price Shops across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Department, in coordination with UIDAI, will monitor the functioning and adoption of the module and extend technical and operational support for its rollout across the UT.
