Gorakhpur Grain ATM Locked: Ration Cardholders Denied Food Due To High Bills, Tech Failure

An "Annapurti" grain-dispensing machine, provided under the World Food Programme to distribute rations to cardholders of the Antyodaya and Patra Grihasthi schemes, is currently locked up and non-operational in the Sadar Tehsil. Despite its purpose of ensuring precise ration distribution, the machine has proven impractical due to high operational costs, logistical challenges, and technical failures.

While District Supply Officer Ramendra Pratap Singh claims the machine serves approximately 100 cardholders each month, the locked room where it is housed suggests it has been out of use for a long time.

A History Of Problems

The machine was allocated to Gorakhpur, along with Varanasi and Lucknow, in 2023. The District Supply Department initially installed it on the premises of Ankur Gupta, a ration shop dealer (kotedar) in Nakaha Number One.

The primary issue arose immediately with its power consumption. A commercial electricity connection, which cost Mr. Gupta around Rs 5,000 to install in 2023, was required. The electricity bill for July 2023 alone came to Rs 5,700. After receiving this high bill, Mr Gupta discontinued its use. His request for reimbursement from the supply department was denied as there was no provision for such expenses. After operating the machine for a few more days under departmental pressure, it was moved from his shop to its current location in a room at the Sadar Tehsil.

Even at the new location, eyewitnesses and local residents report that they have not seen anyone collecting rations from the machine.

Technical And Logistical Flaws

In addition to the prohibitive cost, the machine suffers from several other drawbacks:

- Poor Network Connectivity: Employees report that the machine has had persistent network problems since its arrival. The biometric scanner on the front, which identifies beneficiaries, relies on this connectivity to function. 

- Difficult To Refill: The machine is very large, and its design makes the process of loading grain at a height difficult and cumbersome. 

- Large Footprint: The significant amount of space it occupies makes it difficult to house.

How It Is Supposed To Work

The Annapurti machine is designed to automate ration distribution. A beneficiary places their thumb on the biometric scanner. Once identified:

- Antyodaya Cardholders receive 14 kg of wheat and 21 kg of rice per card.

- Patra Grihasthi Cardholders receive 2 kg of wheat and 3 kg of rice per unit.

The grain is then dispensed into sacks below. Currently, the machine is linked to the Gandhi Nagar DCF ration center in Golghar, and the designated kotedar is responsible for bringing beneficiaries to the machine for distribution.

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District Supply Officer Ramendra Pratap Singh acknowledged the ongoing issues, stating, "A complaint was made to the company to resolve the network issue. Engineers came and fixed it in December 2024, but the problem still persists."

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