Spanco

Client Profile
PDS is a national program that distributes subsidized food in the country, especially for the poor. Maharashtra, though one of the most developed states of the country, is poverty-stricken in parts and in need of a robust distribution network for Food and Civil Supply. The state government intended at computerizing the Citizen-Government interface and making governance more transparent, thus becoming one of the front runners to initiate the process of digitization and automation of Public Distribution System (PDS) in the country

Key Challenges

In order to stop pilferage in the Ration distribution system, the Government of Maharashtra wished to computerize the Rationing system in the entire state and issue Bar code based Laminated Ration cards to each household. They envisaged undertaking this project through Public - Private Partnership (PPP) model and availing the technological expertise of Spanco for the same.

EOI to this effect was floated and after a three stage evaluation, Spanco was awarded a contract to implement the project on BOOT basis for a period of 3 years.

Client's Requirements:

Digitize existing data of 2.34 crore beneficiaries and create a bi-lingual database of Ration Card holders.

Computerize all the 475 FCS offices including Head Office, Divisional Offices and Taluka offices by deploying Desktops,
Printers, Scanners, Digital Camera and Fingerprint Scanners.

Connect all the 475 locations to the Data center and DR site through MPLS/VPN broadband network.

Build and deploy Data Center at Mumbai and connect through 4Mbps link.

Deploy Disaster Recovery site and connect through 2 Mbps link.

Periodical back-end fingerprint matching to track duplicate issuance of cards.

Deploy 900 GPS units in trucks carrying food grains from FCI warehouse to State warehouse to track vehicle movement
and position.

Deploy around 1100 men across the state to operate the project for 3 years.

Operate and maintain the system for a period of 3 years from the date of signing of contract.

Challenges of the project:

The project covered the entire distribution network of 1,06,740 FPS spread across 354 Talukas, in 33 district supply offices.

All the 474 Food Civil supplies (FCS) offices including HO, Divisional Offices and Taluka offices were to be computerized and
networked.

A high-tech Data center was to be deployed to connect with the rest of the state department offices.

Solution offered

Developed and integrated 33 various Application Software modules and automated entire Departmental process. Real-time data is now available at the HQ, which is used for faster planning, monitoring & decision making

Bi-lingual Digitization using ICR/OMR Technology for faster & accurate data

State of the art Data Center & DR site with Redundant Servers using RAID Technology for 24/7 round the clock service

Internet/Intranet applications based on Microsoft Dot Net Technology and portal Management through Microsoft Share point Portal

Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) for maintaining highest levels of SLAs

Easy to use, PC pluggable, robust, durable-battery POS terminal

Wired MPLS/VPN for all locations for secure and reliable operations

Highly reliable, rugged, all weather proof IP-55 GPS units for real time tracking of movement of Vehicles carrying Food Grains

Results / Outcome

Control on Pilferage: Vehicle tracking through GPS instruments will assure delivery of goods from FCI warehouse to the state warehouse and avoid pilferage in transit.

Allotment of Food grains: Appropriate allotment of food grains for FPS based on the active ration card users.

Elimination of Fake Ration cards: Biometric record of the ration card holder will help identify holders and eliminate approximately 4 million fake ration cards in the state.

Transaction recorded in Real time: At FPS, every transaction will be recorded in encrypted manner through the Point of Sale (POS) device. The new system will track every
transaction and deliver the status of ration cards and FPS stock real-time to the higher authority.

Data centre / Disaster Recovery site: The data center is linked with various other departments. With the data gathered, stores provide required business intelligence for
budgeting and other activities.

Accountability: The new system identifies and plugs the loopholes in the present distribution network; and also creates an environment of accountability.