Madikeri: Residents in rural areas of Kodagu district are facing severe delays in receiving food grains distributed under the public distribution system (PDS) because biometric authentication at fair price shops is failing due to persistent server and network problems.People are waiting for days in queues outside ration distribution centres, often missing daily work and even food, as the system does not process fingerprints reliably. Although food grains were being distributed normally about a week earlier, the past week saw repeated server outages. This has left many villages without consistent access. In most rural fair price shops, only about 20% of ration cardholders have been served so far. Distributors warn that if the issue continues, it will be difficult to complete distribution to the remaining beneficiaries within the next three days.Rules require beneficiaries to complete biometric authentication within a month to receive rations, and those unable to provide fingerprints risk losing this month’s allocation. This has intensified hardship for poor families dependent on subsidised food grains, with some residents saying they may have to wait an entire month.In Nariyandada gram panchayat , there are more than 1,000 ration cards, and distributors complain that despite official operating hours from 6am to 10pm, the server remains unavailable for long periods. Kadanga fair price shop is following a similar limited biometric schedule due to the same issue.Wild elephant threat adds to their woesThe problem is compounded by the threat of wild elephants in villages, including Chelavara, Karada, Nariyandada and Edapala. Residents say they must travel early morning or evening to reach shops, increasing risk, and sometimes receive warnings about elephants while waiting in queues at night. Distributors report that when the server is down, it can take 30-40 minutes to capture one person’s biometric. Villagers have urged officials and elected representatives to intervene and restore reliable service immediately.Sharanu Devaiah, PDS distributor in Cheyyandane, said since the server is down, it is taking about 30 to 40 minutes to get a person’s biometric. This time, the govt is giving rice for May and June, and biometrics have to be taken twice, but due to the server problem, that is not happening either.Aishamma, resident of Edapala, explained, “I came in the morning to get ration. But the server is not working properly. This has been happening for 2-3 days, we are not able to do our work.”
