MANDI: India’s ambitious stride toward technological advancement with the rollout of 5G services contrasts sharply with the archaic systems still in use by the Food and Civil Supplies Department in Himachal Pradesh. While residents across the state enjoy the benefits of faster internet, ration distribution continues to be hampered by malfunctioning 2G and 3G machines, creating undue hardships for consumers.
Consumers frustrated by repeated tripping
At fair price shops, where subsidised ration is distributed, outdated machines often fail, leading to repeated server outages. This has left countless consumers exasperated as they are forced to make multiple trips to collect their entitled rations.
Geeta Devi, Tara Sharma, Haripriya and Kusum, regular visitors to fair price shops, shared their frustration. “Most of the time, we leave empty-handed because the machines either don’t work or the server is down. It takes several visits before we finally get the ration,” they said, adding that the situation has become a routine inconvenience.
The problem is not isolated but widespread, with machines across the state frequently breaking down or failing to connect due to poor network speeds. Consumers have appealed to the state government to address the issue urgently. They demand the replacement of outdated machines with modern technology, or revert to the traditional manual system to ensure smooth and reliable distribution.
Glaring gap in technology adoption
Mandi district, for instance, has 842 fair price shops, but 815 of them still use 2G and 3G-enabled devices. Only 27 shops have been upgraded to 4G machines. This disparity highlights the slow pace of modernisation within the Food and Civil Supplies Department, even as the rest of the state moves forward with high-speed Internet.
Vijay Hamlal, District Controller of the department, acknowledged the frequent issues with these machines but insisted that efforts were being made to resolve them. “We have established WhatsApp groups at district and state levels to address problems as soon as they arise,” he explained. However, he admitted, that a majority of issues stemmed from Aadhaar servers, which often crashed due to heavy traffic.
5G progressexposes systemic flaws
Himachal Pradesh has already introduced 4G in even its remotest villages, and the rollout of 5G is proceeding at a rapid pace. Yet, ration distribution remains tethered to technology that belongs to a bygone era. To put it into perspective, expecting the efficiency of a 5G-enabled system from 2G or 3G machines is akin to expecting a bullock cart to match the speed of a car.
The inefficiency of these outdated machines not only delays ration distribution but also undermines consumer trust in the public distribution system. With newer technology readily available, the reliance on obsolete machines raises questions about administrative priorities and the department’s commitment to consumer welfare.
