Public distribution in the state has fallen into crisis due to a server failure in the online system that facilitates the operation of e-PoS (electronic sales outlets) machines in grocery stores.
After the hook had persisted for four days, some of the rationing dealers closed their shutters on Tuesday and stopped supplying rationing.
In most parts of the state, grocery card holders have had to wait up to half an hour for their allocation since Friday. Several beneficiaries also returned empty-handed after waiting for hours in front of grocery stores in certain areas. The inflow of beneficiaries has increased considerably, presumably to receive the additional allocation of half a liter of kerosene this month.
Ration dealers claimed the e-PoS machines went offline frequently, especially in the early sales hours. They also alleged that despite repeated requests, the authorities had not responded.
T. Muhammedali, general secretary of the Association of All Retail Ration Traders in Kerala, said there have been cases where the public has been excited about the ration traders through no fault of their own. In some places, the e-PoS machines captured the beneficiaries’ biometric data but went offline before the receipts could be printed.
“Given the circumstances, it has become difficult to operate the rationing stations before a permanent solution to the problem is found,” he said.
The Minister of Food and Civil Utilities, GR Anil, attributed the problem to a bug in the central server of the state data center. The hook has affected the functioning of various departments. “The topic was taken up with the IT Mission Director. Efforts are being made to correct the bug, ”he said.
However, the minister was outraged by the decision to close food spending. He claimed there had been constant attempts to slander the department and impede its activities to modernize the public distribution system for the public good.
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