PRAYAGRAJ, July 4 -- Thumb impressions and iris scans have now been introduced in Prayagraj to improve the ration delivery process, and to ensure affordable ration reaches the underprivileged and poor across the district. Ration shops in Prayagraj will soon offer iris scanning facilities alongside the existing thumb impression system. This new arrangement is intended to benefit ration cardholders by making the process smoother and more reliable, district officials said. According to Sunil Singh, district supply officer of Prayagraj, many eligible beneficiaries who work as labourers often have difficulty providing clear thumb impressions at ration shops, which sometimes leads to denial of ration and disputes between shopkeepers and beneficiaries. To address these increasing issues, iris scanning has been introduced from July 1. Those unable to provide thumb impressions can now avail of iris scans to easily receive their ration, he added. Prayagraj district has a total of 1,026,000 ration cards issued, covering approximately 4.2 million eligible persons. The iris scanning system was first introduced in Uttar Pradesh in 2018 and expanded statewide during 2019-2020. Districts previously not covered by this technology are now being included, and Prayagraj is among them, said officials. The state government has also launched the Annapurna Bhawan scheme to strengthen the public distribution system and ensure smooth ration supply to cardholders. Under this initiative, 75 to 100 Annapurna Bhawans will be constructed annually in every district. So far, 37 such buildings have been completed in Prayagraj, with land being identified for the remaining constructions, Singh said. This step will promote transparency in ration distribution and enhance integration of local services, he added. In addition, anticipating possible heavy rains and possible floods, the district administration has directed that the ration for the months of July and August be distributed together in July to ensure uninterrupted supply....