Biometric Infrastructures and the Indian Public Distribution System
This paper reflects on the author’s nine-year research on the transformation of India’s Public Distribution System (PDS) enacted through digital technologies first and, more recently, through Aadhaar’s biometric infrastructure. Based on the experiences of two states, Kerala and Karnataka, which adop...
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2020-04-01
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Online Access: | http://journals.openedition.org/samaj/6459 |
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doaj-02d49cb268344d2995b0bde42aa81edb2021-02-09T13:08:37ZengCentre d’Etudes de l’Inde et de l’Asie du SudSouth Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal1960-60602020-04-012310.4000/samaj.6459Biometric Infrastructures and the Indian Public Distribution SystemSilvia MasieroThis paper reflects on the author’s nine-year research on the transformation of India’s Public Distribution System (PDS) enacted through digital technologies first and, more recently, through Aadhaar’s biometric infrastructure. Based on the experiences of two states, Kerala and Karnataka, which adopted biometric identification in their ration shops, the paper illustrates the effects of the transition to an Aadhaar-based PDS, on both program governance and recipients’ entitlements. It argues that, while designed with the objective of combating the rice mafia resulting in foodgrain diversion, a biometric PDS does not prevent the exclusion errors pervading the program, and supports the transition to a cash transfer system whose developmental outcomes are still uncertain. Contributing to the debate on coded citizenship in South Asia, this paper reflects on the transformative power that biometric infrastructures yield over food security schemes, and considers different ways a computerized PDS may be tailored for the inclusion of vulnerable groups.http://journals.openedition.org/samaj/6459biometric infrastructuresPublic Distribution Systemfood securityanti-poverty policyAadhaarIndia |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Silvia Masiero |
spellingShingle |
Silvia Masiero Biometric Infrastructures and the Indian Public Distribution System South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal biometric infrastructures Public Distribution System food security anti-poverty policy Aadhaar India |
author_facet |
Silvia Masiero |
author_sort |
Silvia Masiero |
title |
Biometric Infrastructures and the Indian Public Distribution System |
title_short |
Biometric Infrastructures and the Indian Public Distribution System |
title_full |
Biometric Infrastructures and the Indian Public Distribution System |
title_fullStr |
Biometric Infrastructures and the Indian Public Distribution System |
title_full_unstemmed |
Biometric Infrastructures and the Indian Public Distribution System |
title_sort |
biometric infrastructures and the indian public distribution system |
publisher |
Centre d’Etudes de l’Inde et de l’Asie du Sud |
series |
South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal |
issn |
1960-6060 |
publishDate |
2020-04-01 |
description |
This paper reflects on the author’s nine-year research on the transformation of India’s Public Distribution System (PDS) enacted through digital technologies first and, more recently, through Aadhaar’s biometric infrastructure. Based on the experiences of two states, Kerala and Karnataka, which adopted biometric identification in their ration shops, the paper illustrates the effects of the transition to an Aadhaar-based PDS, on both program governance and recipients’ entitlements. It argues that, while designed with the objective of combating the rice mafia resulting in foodgrain diversion, a biometric PDS does not prevent the exclusion errors pervading the program, and supports the transition to a cash transfer system whose developmental outcomes are still uncertain. Contributing to the debate on coded citizenship in South Asia, this paper reflects on the transformative power that biometric infrastructures yield over food security schemes, and considers different ways a computerized PDS may be tailored for the inclusion of vulnerable groups. |
topic |
biometric infrastructures Public Distribution System food security anti-poverty policy Aadhaar India |
url |
http://journals.openedition.org/samaj/6459 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT silviamasiero biometricinfrastructuresandtheindianpublicdistributionsystem |
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1724276867110797312 |