COVID-19: Use of Bio-metric Machines at Ration Stores without Proper Hygiene Leaves locals in Scare

The number of COVID infections in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been seeing a spike with more than 15000 positive cases and 273 deaths and government imposing a strict curfew to curb the spread of this virus further. In this village of Kupwara, people are denied ration without following the proper finger scanning at the ration stores. The locals feel scared of touching the machine as it can lead to further infections. Govt is asking every institution to ensure physical distancing and proper hygiene, on the other side it is not being implemented by the consumer affairs and public distribution department of J&K. Storekeepers have been provided with an inadequate supply of sanitizers and measures and the public is scared to touch the bio-metric machines to receive their ration, fearing they might infect themselves. Govt had put a ban on using bio-metric means in March, however, this remains unimplemented in the ground.