Chhattisgarh’s ‘24×7 Ration ATM’ Gains Praise OnlineChhattisgarh’s ‘24×7 Ration ATM’ has been gaining praise on the internet for using technology to make the distribution of food grains more convenient and transparent.
A video shared online shows the machine dispensing rice after biometric authentication. The automated system allows eligible ration card holders to collect their monthly quota of food grains at any time of the day.
The initiative has also caught the attention of industry experts. Harsh Goenka recently shared a video of the machine and praised the initiative. He wrote, “Chhattisgarh has launched a 24×7 ‘Ration ATM’ in Raipur. Authenticate with your ration card and fingerprint, and the machine automatically dispenses your quota of rice. Open round the clock, run by a women’s self-help group. Technology making welfare simpler and faster.”
The post immediately attracted attention, with the comments section flooded with reactions. One person wrote that technology could be an antidote to corruption. Another commented, “No human interference, no bribe.” A third user said the system should be implemented across the country so that ration operators cannot allegedly divert grains meant for beneficiaries into the black market.
How Does the Ration ATM Work?
The process is simple. A ration card holder enters the required ration card details and provides a fingerprint or thumb impression for biometric authentication.Once the beneficiary is authenticated, the machine dispenses the fixed quantity of grains allotted to them. It also weighs and delivers the specified quantity, such as rice, within a few minutes. Unlike conventional ration shops, the facility is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Beneficiaries therefore do not have to depend on a particular date or operating hours of a ration shop to collect their monthly quota.
The Big Change
The biggest difference is the reduced need for human intervention in the distribution process.The system is intended to make ration distribution more transparent and reduce irregularities. Automated weighing and dispensing can also help address concerns related to incorrect quantities and the diversion of food grains.
For ration card holders, one of the biggest advantages is flexibility. They can collect their monthly ration at any time instead of being restricted to the operating hours of conventional ration shops. Biometric authentication also adds a layer of accountability to the process, making it more difficult for unauthorised persons to collect a beneficiary’s ration or for food grains to be diverted.