AP saves 1,500 cr thanks to e-PoS

Vijayawada: Civil supplies minister Prathipati Pulla Rao said on Monday that the state government saved Rs 1,500 crore in the last three years by preventing irregularities in the Public Distribution System (PDS). He said the Andhra Pradesh government was ahead of other states in implementing advanced e-PoS (point of sale) system to ensure distribution of ration to the eligible families.

Pulla Rao addressed the ‘National Conference of Food Secretaries of State and Union Territories on PDS Reforms and Initiatives Taken by the Governments’ attended by around 200 senior officials of civil supplies departments of states and Union Territories at a hotel here.

Disclosing the details of latest software being implemented by the state government, the minister said the AP government had introduced new software and advanced machinery investing Rs169 crore to ensure supply of ration to all eligible families in the state. He said the state had saved Rs72 crore in November this year alone owing to e-PoS system. “Deputy tahsildars and village revenue officers have also been entrusted with the task of preventing irregularities.

Beneficiaries can lodge complaint on 1100 to get assistance in case of any irregularities on the part of ration dealers. In case of problems arising out of biometrics of beneficiaries not working, the ration can be disbursed with the finger prints of VROs and deputy tahsildars,” Pulla Rao said. He said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was insisting on implementation of reforms in civil supplies department to ensure no eligible household is left out from the PDS. Senior officials of other states shared the details of the procedures followed in their states in implementation of PDS.