Odisha stops use of biometric mode of authentication at fair price shops

    (Eds: Replacing a word in the intro and 2nd para)
    Bhubaneswar, Jul 18 (PTI) The Odisha government on
Saturday decided to suspend the biometric mode of
authentication during the distribution of PDS commodities
through e-PoS at fair price shops in view of COVID-19
pandemic, officials said.
    The Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department
(FSCWD) in a letter to all district collectors has said that
biometric mode of Aadhaar authentication using fingerprint
scanner and IRIS device has been suspended, during
distribution of public distribution system (PDS) ration
through the e-PoS device at fair price shops.
    "The order of not using the biometric mode of Aadhaar
authentication will remain in force till further order," FSCW
minister R P Swain said.
    In order to stop the spread of infection, it is
suggested to avoid the biometric attendance and adopt a non-
touch attendance management system, he said.
    Health experts say the most common method of
transmission of the virus seems to be through infected
surfaces. Therefore, it is desirable to avoid touching
surfaces, which might be infected due to human touch.
    The department has also asked district collectors to
direct all field officers and fair price shop dealers to
continue with distribution through e-POS only in automated
mode by maintaining social distancing norms and other COVID-19
guidelines. PTI AAM RG
RG RG

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)