Minister for food and civil supplies Girish Bapat on Monday revealed that a total of 3.64 lakh metric tonnes of food-grains were saved after linking Aadhaar with ration cards. These food-grains now would be provided to 99 lakh additional beneficiaries in the state. Stating that 99 lakh more beneficiaries can be included into the public distribution system, Bapat added that after introducing AEPDS (Aadhaar Enabled Public Distribution System) it is not possible for anyone to avail food-grains on ration cards without Aadhaar card. After providing PoS (point of sale) machines throughout the state to 55 thousand fair price rationing shops, it was found that in the financial year 2017-18, 3.64 lakh 800 metric tonnes of food-grains were saved. Bapat informed that the state has completed 96.62 per cent seeding of Aadhar and it is not possible for bogus beneficiaries to avail food-grains on PDS. Bapat admitted that there used to be an irregularity in food-grains distribution on rationing shops which is now made fool-proof. He also said that 10 lakh beneficiaries were deleted from the list since they were either deceased or having their names in two places or found to be non-existent after the physical visits to households. The minister informed that for availing benefits of PDS, cardholders would have to link their ration cards with Aadhar and also fulfil the e-KYC (electronic Know Your Customer) system. He told that for rural areas the income limit is up to Rs 44,000 per annum and for urban areas it is Rs 59,000 per annum. Bapat informed that the Union Government has provided a quota of Rs 7.05 crores for providing food-grains under Anna Suraksha act. That state Government has also provided food-grains at Rs. 2 and 3 per kilogram for farmers in the 14 districts from Vidarbha and Marathwada which are suicides hit districts, he said. SAVINGS UPTICK Department has a turnover of Rs 14,000 cr/year and after AEPDS and PoS, there is a saving of almost 30% per year. It means after deployment of tech, state saved Rs 4200 cr in 2017-18.

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