Mismacth between man and machine

Currently, we have one big mantra in India, digitization. This is a very integral ingredient to make Make in India a success. And the Govt is trying at all levels to ‘digitize’ India. By digitization, we broadly mean computers, software to run it and network. And this is probably what it means by automation also. Jaitley in the Budget announced that 3 lakh out of the 5.35 lakh fair price shops (FPSs) or ration shops will be provided automation facilities by March 2017.

In our country ration shops are very important as they serve some 400 million BPL families with basic food of life for survival. Ration shops typically are supposed to stock up on rice, wheat, salt, sugar, kerosene, oil and such day-to-day basics. Every BPL family is entitled to get 35 kg of rice and wheat every month and those above BPL, 15 kg of food grain every month.  The role of ration shops is all the more important from the Food Security point of view.

Thus from this aspect, “automation” of ration shops is a good move. But what exactly is this automation? Just putting computers? Or “printing” out bills? Will automation mean that quality of rice and grains given at raion shops will improve? Or will automation improve efficiency and reduce corruption in these shops?

Having mere computers, software and network means nothing - out of the 2,50,000 panchayats, more than 50,000 have been provided computers and connectivity but these facilities are almost never used. When people are not first trained to use the computers, how can automation dream come true? This mismatch between machine and man first needs to be corrected before we embark on this digitization path.