FPS agents should use e-POS devices to maintain proper records: Govt
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 16 2021: Fair Price Shops (FPS) agents have been notified to mandatorily use Electronics Point of Sales (ePOS) devices to maintain proper distribution records under National Food Security Act (NFSA)/Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) .

In this context, an office memorandum has been issued by Ranjan Yumnam, Joint Secretary of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution Department, Government of Manipur.

The memorandum stated that all FPS agents are to compulsorily use e-POS devices while obtaining biometric authentication of NFSA/PMGKAY beneficiaries at the time of distribution of foodgrains so that there is no deduction of monthly allocation of NFSA in the future by way of adjustment against quantity shown to be not distributed on account of e-POS devices not being fully by the FPS agents.

The Deputy Commissioners are requested to instruct the District Supply Officers (DSOs) to enforce usage of e-POS devices by the FPS agents.

DSOs shall organise sensitisation programmes at the earliest to convey the seriousness of the matter of insufficient usage of e-POS devices.

Further, honorarium of FPS agents will only be considered on satisfactory adoption of e-POS devices and for the quantity recorded in the e-POS devices only.

It may be noted that the State Government introduced automation of Fair Price Shops in Manipur for distribution of foodgrains and 2340 e-POS devices were distributed to respective FPS agents earlier whereas it has been observed that e-POS devices have not been used by FPS agents extensively and have been following the norm of manual distribution.

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