Term Paper DIS

Submitted by Saurabh Jain, S-78

Under the Guidance of Dr. M.L.Singla
RFID: Curbing the Menace of PDS in India
RFID or Radio Frequency ID is a unique concept and is the wireless non-contact use of radio-
frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data, for the purposes of automatically identifying and
tracking tags attached to objects. The tags contain electronically stored information. Some tags are
powered by and read at short ranges (a few meters) via magnetic fields (electromagnetic induction).
Others use a local power source such as a battery, or else have no battery but collect energy from the
interrogating EM field, and then act as a passive transponder to emit microwaves or UHF radio waves
(i.e., electromagnetic radiation at high frequencies).
India has got its major loss through PDS (Public Distribution System) wherein the food grains are
produced in adequate quantity but there are distribution losses as well as transmission losses. The
losses are mostly due to the pilferage or because of an illegal nexus between the distributor and retailer.
Owing to millions and billions of losses RFID Technology can come in as a handy tool to curb this mess.
Though political will is a must to implement the same. It has been observed that most of the items
under the purview of PDS are lost during the transition and then there are thousands of tons of grain
lying untracked in warehouses. Though RFID technology is in nascent stages but a solar powered RFID
tag can do wonders to the distribution system and can put a stop to this curb. RFID Technology along
with moisture & temperature transducers can help create a centralized system where it will be easier to
figure out that which particular food grain is available at which warehouse and what is the current status
of the sacks of food grains. Food Grains being a perishable item needs to follow the concept of FIFO i.e.
First in First Out. Whatever has been produced first needs to be available to the public first so that food
grains dont get rotten in the warehouses. A centralized database along with proper business logic can
help with a daily report as which food grains needs to be out first for the public use.
Most of the public welfare schemes in India dont see the dawn because of the relevant factors not
being accounted for. Though there is a famous saying that if government can bring in 100 ways of
curbing the criminal nexus, the criminal knows 101 ways to commit a crime but till then RFID seems to
be a promising choice of technology.
Recently Sh. Narendra Modi, CM Gujarat has used Technology enabled trucks to collect iron ore for
Statue of Unity and track them through a centralized system. Each of the corrugated boxes to bring back
the iron tool has a letter to the sarpanch signed by Modi, a bottle to collect soil, posters, booklets, VCD
Term Paper DIS
Submitted by Saurabh Jain, S-78
Under the Guidance of Dr. M.L.Singla
about Sardar Patel, pens and is embedded with a GPS chip to help track it. If there is a political will there
is a way to curb the evil menace of PDS.
Though there seems to be a technological glitch reported as well where in at times the RFID readers are
not able to scan or powering the RFID Chips or tags but then they can be overcome. Using a solar power
based RFID Chip or tag can solve the problem of power. Then if the transducers are fitted along with
RFID which can capture real time data related to moisture and temperature of the sack of grains along
with the weight it can help prevent rotting of grains as well as stop pilferage. Though I am not a
technology geek but then if the technological problems can be looked into, it will help India progress
and go a long way. And lastly political will is a must to get this technology see the dawn of the day.