JAMMU, October 30, 2026 – The mandatory implementation of a new face authentication system for the distribution of rations has met with stiff resistance in Jammu and Kashmir. On Thursday, the Fair Price Shop Dealers Association (FPSDA) of the J&K Union Territory strongly opposed the latest directive issued by the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), arguing it will cause severe inconvenience to vulnerable beneficiaries.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu, representatives of the FPSDA highlighted that the new biometric system—relying solely on facial recognition—is an “unplanned scheme” that will disproportionately affect elderly, sick, and bedridden ration cardholders.
The dealers argued that many senior citizens and those suffering from illnesses physically struggle to visit Fair Price Shops (FPS) to get their faces scanned. They warned that the rigid enforcement of this technology could result in deserving and impoverished families being denied their monthly food grains due to technical glitches or their inability to physically travel to the distribution centers.
“Before the implementation of such unplanned schemes over the FPSDs of J&K UT, we request the Department of FCS&CA to reconsider the proposal,” a spokesperson for the Association stated.
The dealers are demanding that the government maintain the flexibility of the previous system. They urged the authorities to continue with the past practice of allowing thumb impression verification and OTP (One Time Password) based distribution, alongside the new face authentication system, to ensure that no legitimate beneficiary is turned away due to technical limitations.
The sudden transition to exclusively Aadhaar-based face authentication aims to curb pilferage and ensure transparency in the Public Distribution System (PDS). However, the dealers assert that without alternative verification methods like OTPs, the ground reality of poor internet connectivity and the physical limitations of the elderly will make the system counterproductive.
The FPSDA has appealed to the Lieutenant Governor’s administration to intervene and modify the FCS&CA order to prevent unnecessary hardship to the common people across the Union Territory.
Published by True Roots Media Network