The State government has decided to issue biometric cards to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in camps to eliminate any scope for irregularities in disbursal of cash dole.

Revenue inspectors at present visit the camps to make the payment and there is some scope for impersonation, say officials concerned. As the revenue inspectors at times have to make the payment to other inmates of camps when refugees concerned are not present during their visit, the cash may not reach the intended beneficiaries, they point out.

Under the new system, the intention is to provide a fool-proof cash delivery, the officials say.

In the new system, to be introduced across the State from September, every adult in the camps will have a no-frills account with Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), the lead bank. He or she will be given a biometric card and his or her fingerprints will be captured.

The government will credit the money to the individual accounts directly. IOB’s representatives will visit the camps and take their fingerprints using hand-held machines. Once the authentication is confirmed, cash will be disbursed.

For those below 18 years, their bank accounts will be linked, preferably, with those of their mothers, the officials say. About 10 days ago, the Public Department issued an order to this effect.

The government’s latest initiative was, to certain extent, based on an experiment launched in Namakkal district two years ago where 687 families refugees in three camps, housing 2,227 persons, have been getting the payment through Indian Bank, using biometric cards. But, in Namakkal, only one card is issued to a family, says an official there.

Under the new system, accounts will be opened with nearby branches of IOB, which, even now, has been serving 70 per cent of the camps.

In the remaining places, the lead bank of the given district will be entrusted with the responsibility of making the payment.

The system will be implemented on an experimental basis in 10 refugee camps and it will be extended to all other camps from October, the officials say.

Roll call of refugees will be conducted twice a month (first and third weeks) and if any refugee fails to answer the roll call on both occasions, dole will not be given to the refugee for the month. (The Hindu)