Representative Image: Mathrubhumi
Thiruvananthapuram: The ration shop timings have been restricted in Kerala as the server glitch of the E-PoS machine continues to trouble the system.
The rescheduling will be effective from Thursday and will continue till 18 of this month. Shops in seven districts will open in the morning and rest in the afternoon.
New timings: Malappuram, Thrissur, Palakkad, Alappuzha, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Wayanad - 8.30 am to 12 pm.
Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, Kottayam, Kasaragod and Idukki- 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm.
This arrangement has been made due to the maintenance going on in the server to increase the server capacity. The E-PoS servers were underperforming because of incapacity as thousands of new cardholders were added to the system. There were only 80.92 lakh of cardholders when the E-PoS ration distribution system started. At present, the number of beneficiaries is 91.88 lakh.
Poor mobile networks also cause trouble for distributors and customers. The Public Distribution System had approved SIM cards of three service providers. The ration shop owners can choose any of the two service providers as per the network availability in their area. PDS has informed that they will provide other company services if both aren't working. But this has happened only in a few places.
The technical wing had said that the glitch will be resolved in two days but it has been extended to five days. The ration shop owners said that on Wednesday the server went down partially. At some places, it went down by 9.45 am. In a few places, the server retained normalcy by 11 am.
Despite the repeated complaints from the ration shop owners about the server trouble, the government had not implemented any permanent solution. Similar technical glitches had hindered the functioning last year as well.
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