Amaravati: Biometric verification to be discontinued for pensions, PDS

Amaravati: The State government has decided to discontinue the biometric system for the distribution of the welfare schemes, direct cash benefits and in Public Distribution System amid fear of coronavirus.

Speaking to this correspondent, K Kanna Babu, Special Secretary, Department of Gram Volunteers and Ward Volunteers, and Village Secretariats and Ward Secretariats, said the government had taken a decision to stop the use of biometric based distribution of pensions and PDS from this month itself.

The government would provide PDS groceries on March 29. In addition to the pension to regular eligible beneficiaries, the government would provide Rs 1,000 to every white cardholder in the State on April 4.

The government employees were already exempted from biometric based attendance in all offices in the State.

Fearing that the biometric machine would become a potential transmission agent for the novel coronavirus, the government took the decision.

If a virus affected patient would touch the machine and press his thumb impression on it, it may infect persons who use the same machine. The virus would remain for several hours on the machine itself, experts said.