TimesView Connectivity issues with regard to the e-PoS system had cropped up in the initial phase of implementation, but it was reported in November 2018 that the matter was resolved. The government has to carefully probe into whether it is a genuine case of network related issues or if fair price shops are merely reluctant to be part of the system that ensures transparency. After all, it curtails scope of manipulation of purchase records and diversion of items from the public distribution system to the open market. PANAJI: Problems with clear mobile network connection are rampant in the state. However, while citizens seem to have somewhat made their peace with the slow Internet connection and poor mobile data in the state, the e-PoS (electronic point of sale) system implemented by the state civil supplies department is facing a setback owing to connectivity issues.Due to this, a few fair price shops in the state have still not started with the Supreme Court directed e-PoS transactions despite the systems being in place since December 2018.The department of civil supplies has sent a list of these fair price shops to service providers to work out a solution.“We have submitted a list of all these places to the service providers — BSNL, Vodafone and Idea — for them to work out a solution. They have replied saying some of these places don’t have a mobile network tower owing to which there is a huge difficulty in obtaining connection for e-PoS transactions,” a civil supplies official told TOI.These are fair price shops located in some of Goa’s interior areas, like Caurepirla in Quepem, however, the list also features some shops located in prime city areas like near the Mahalakshmi temple in Panaji and another in the village of Merces, which is a few kilometres away from Panaji.Sources revealed that some residents of these areas have, in the past, raised objection towards the installation of mobile network towers.“Villagers want to use a mobile phone, but don’t want a tower. How are systems expected to work with such mentality? Operating offline is the only solution for these fair price shops,” a resident of Merces said.In some other places, the connectivity is erratic during weekends and peak evening hours, a time when most people prefer to collect their ration.With many people queuing up at the fair price shops during this time, the mobile connection slows down to a snail’s pace.“The e-PoS system is very transparent. People have to be patient in the queue since thumb impression in the new system can take some time owing to the slow connectivity. Others don’t like waiting in a queue so people may take a few more months to get used to the new system. We are making efforts to ensure that connectivity issues are resolved at the earliest,” civil supplies director Sandhya Kamat said.

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