Biometric Authentication Enables India’s First ‘Grain ATM’

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Odisha Government have introduced India’s first 24-hour grain dispensing machine, known as the ‘Grain ATM,’ in Bhubaneswar.

The initiative (named “Annapurti”, which translates to “fulfiller of food” in Hindi) marks Odisha as the first state in India to provide continuous access to public distribution system (PDS) beneficiaries.

The Grain ATM was inaugurated on August 9 by Krushna Chandra Patra, Odisha’s Minister of Food Supplies, Consumer Welfare, Science and Technology, alongside Nozomi Hashimoto, Deputy Country Director for WFP in India. The machine aims to enhance food security in the state by ensuring that PDS beneficiaries can access their rations at any time, reducing the need for long waits and manual distribution issues.

The process to obtain grain through the Annapurti system begins with biometric authentication, ensuring that beneficiaries receive their full entitlement accurately and efficiently. The machine’s modular design allows for easy installation in various locations, and it is energy-efficient, with the option to connect to solar panels for automatic refilling.

Annapurti offers universal access to any individual holding a valid PDS ration card, regardless of their state or union territory. It can dispense up to 50 kilograms of grain in just five minutes, significantly cutting down waiting times by 70 percent.

The Grain ATM initiative is part of India’s broader efforts to improve food distribution under the National Food Security Act, which provides subsidized grains to about 813 million people each month through over 500,000 Fair Price Shops (FPS).

Traditionally, FPS operators manually weigh and distribute grains, a process that can be time-consuming and prone to errors. The introduction of Annapurti aims to address these challenges by automating and streamlining the distribution process, reducing waste and ensuring that beneficiaries receive their allotted rations.

Odisha’s Grain ATM is the latest example of India’s continued expansion of its use of biometric technologies beyond the Aadhaar system.

Other recent implementations include the introduction of biometric attendance systems in de-addiction centers in Punjab, the UPSCs adoption of Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication, facial recognition, and AI-driven surveillance to prevent cheating in exams, and the Assam government’s recent opening of a center to resolve biometric discrepancies affecting individuals listed in the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Source: United Nations India

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August 19, 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis