UP Implement Biometrics in Supplementary Nutrition Scheme

The Uttar Pradesh Government has decided to implement a biometric system to make nutrition distribution under the Supplementary Nutrition Scheme at Anganwadi and mini Anganwadi centres operated under child development projects of the state.

Under this project Uttar Pradesh Development System Corporation Limited (UPDESCO) has been nominated as the executive body for the installation and operation of e-POS( Electronic Point of Sale) machines.

UPDESCO will be responsible for preparing the Request for Proposal (RFP) through e-tendering along with the tender for the installation of ePOS machines.

About the provision under nutrition distribution through biometric

Previously, the State Cabinet approved the arrangement for the 'poshahar' distribution through e-POS machines supplementary nutrition scheme at Anganwadi and Mini Anganwadi centres operated by the Department of Child Development and Nutrition under child development projects of the state.

The selected system integrator organizations will need to provide e-POS machine software applications, Iris identification, field-level manpower, technical manpower, and mobile SIM cards. Additionally, maintenance of all these aspects will be required for a period of three years. This project will be operated on a system integrator-based BOO (Build, Own, Operate) model. 

Adolescent girls aged 14 to 18 years, pregnant and lactating women are capable of self-biometric authentication, and therefore, they will receive their poshahar after verifying their identity through Aadhaar-based authentication. For children aged 6 months to 6 years, their parents receive it on their behalf.

The Supplementary Nutrition is service provided under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme which is primarily designed to bridge the gap between the Recommended Dietary Allowance (FDA) and the Average Daily Intake (ADI). Supplementary Nutrition is given to the children (6 months – 6 years) and pregnant and lactating mothers under the ICDS Scheme.

What is biometrics?

Biometric systems are using personal characteristics (directly linked to who you are) to authenticate or identify a person. A system collects biometric characteristics unique to every person. These biometric characteristics are then directly linked to verify or identify the individual.

The basic premise of biometric authentication is that every person can be accurately identified by intrinsic physical or behavioral traits. The term biometrics is derived from the Greek words bio, meaning life, and metric, meaning to measure.

Some common examples of biometric security:

• Voice Recognition
• Fingerprint Scanning
• Facial Recognition
• Iris Recognition
• Heart-Rate Sensors