Ration distribution through biometric system insensitive, unsafe: PDP

Party demands immediate halt of process till end of prevalent pandemic

Srinagar: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has come down heavily on the state authorities for pushing Lacs of J&K residents into the threat of Covid -19 by asking for biometric authentication of ration card holders making it mandatory for distribution of ration.

The Party spokesman in a statement issued here not only termed this diktat amid the pandemic as senseless but dangerous too. “We are amid the worst of times as the Covid -19 crises has turned un-precedent. Amid such a situation, the insistence of food and civil supplies department for a mandatory biometric authentication procedure of ration card holders  is not only a senseless  act , it also puts lives of lacs in jeopardy “, the spokesman said.

“With COVID-19 related figures breaching records every day, it is beyond anybody’s understanding as to why the authorities would insist on such a process knowing very well that it has potential to further increase the spread of deadly disease. Such an insistence is criminal,” he said.

“Authorities across that country including J&K have done away with biometric attendance of employees as part of strategy to curb the spread of COVID-19. How is the same biometrics fine for the common masses?  It seems that notified SOPs are subservient to the whims of some officers and the two are are clearly not insync “ ,he added.

“The People’s Democratic Party demands immediate halt in this ill-timed process till COVID-19 threat is over in public interest,”  said the party spokesman.