Technical glitches and systemic delays at Public Distribution System (PDS) shops in Chennai have marred the distribution of the state government's special Pongal gift, forcing thousands of ration card holders to endure long, frustrating queues. The promised package includes ₹3,000 in cash, 1kg of raw rice, 1kg of sugar, and a stalk of sugarcane.
Biometric Failures and Network Issues Cause Chaos
The heart of the problem lies in persistent network issues and malfunctioning biometric recognition systems. Salesmen at the ration shops are mandated to verify beneficiaries through fingerprint or iris scans before disbursing the aid. However, on the ground, the systems are failing repeatedly. In many instances, fingerprints are not recognized even after multiple attempts, leaving people empty-handed after hours of waiting.
Officials reported that until 10 am on Saturday, the dole had reached 78.30 lakh beneficiaries out of the 2.23 crore ration card holders targeted by Chief Minister M K Stalin's announcement on Sunday. Despite this progress, countless individuals in the city were turned away after their biometric data could not be authenticated.
"Come Back Later": Public Faces the Brunt
A salesman at a PDS shop in Anakaputhur, under the Tambaram corporation, explained the dilemma. "For most people, the system captures the fingerprints on the second or third attempt. But for some, it did not recognize them even after multiple attempts," he said. The protocol mandates biometric confirmation, forcing staff to ask failed applicants to return during less busy hours.
To expedite the process, officials had initially provided two biometric options—fingerprint and iris scan. However, supervisors revealed that the iris scan feature was deliberately disabled as it was found to further slow down the already lagging system. This put additional pressure on the fingerprint scanners, which are themselves struggling.
Systemic Bottlenecks and Public Anguish
Ration card holders like Sekar are caught in a bureaucratic loop. After facing repeated biometric failures, he was advised to update his fingerprints at an Aadhaar centre. However, he was informed there that it could take up to one month for the new fingerprints to be updated in the UIDAI system. "I visit the ration shop every day without any luck," Sekar lamented, highlighting the gap between policy and practical implementation.
Supervisors on site squarely blame a slow central server for the massive delays. "We were directed to speed up the cash distribution, but the system does not support it," a supervisor stated. He added that staff are arriving early and working beyond their hours, but the technological bottleneck makes their efforts futile, leading to public inconvenience and disappointment during the festive season.
The situation underscores the challenges of implementing large-scale digital welfare schemes, where technological infrastructure must keep pace with administrative ambition to ensure benefits reach citizens smoothly.
