Kannur: Ration cardholders in Kerala will soon be able to bypass long queues at fair-price shops to purchase rice and wheat. Under a new initiative, beneficiaries can receive up to 50 kilograms of food grains under 5 minutes at the touch of a button.

The state government is set to introduce 24-hour, automated "Grain ATMs"—modeled after bank cash machines—with Ernakulam district selected for the pilot project. Piravom, the constituency of Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob, is currently the frontrunner to host the state's first machine.

Named 'Annapurti', the system operates via biometric authentication. Beneficiaries must type in their ration card number and place their finger on a biometric scanner to verify their identity.

Key features of the 'Annapurti' Grain ATM:

  • Location & refilling: The automated dispensing machines will be installed adjacent to existing ration shops, with the shop owners responsible for keeping them stocked.

  • Capacity: Each machine has a storage capacity of up to 2,500 kilograms of food grains.

  • Sustainability: To ensure uninterrupted 24/7 operations, the units will be powered by solar panels backed by inverter batteries.

Drive for transparency

The core objective behind the automation is to ensure the fast, efficient, and transparent distribution of subsidised food grains. Kerala consented to roll out the scheme after the central government inquired about the state's interest in adopting the technology.

While the machinery is provided under a central framework, the Kerala state government will bear all ongoing maintenance costs, with proposals under consideration to utilise MLA asset development funds for financial backing.

The automated dispensers will initially be deployed in urban areas before expanding further. Similar pilot schemes have already been successfully initiated in the states of Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.