In rural areas, the effectiveness of digital authentication systems in ration shops is often limited by unreliable or unavailable internet connectivity, leading to transaction failures and increased opportunities for fraud. To address this challenge, this paper proposes an offline multimodal biometric authentication system designed specifically for rural ration shop environments. The proposed system integrates RFID-based identification with face recognition to provide secure and reliable beneficiary authentication without dependence on network connectivity. Arduino is used for hardware control and RFID processing, while a Python-based application employing OpenCV and face recognition libraries performs facial verification using locally stored biometric data. During each transaction, the beneficiary’s RFID tag is validated and the captured facial image is matched against the local database before access is granted. Authentication results and user details are displayed on an LCD, accompanied by buzzer alerts and voice feedback for transaction status. Experimental observations demonstrate that the system effectively reduces impersonation, minimizes manual errors, and ensures fair distribution of ration commodities in offline conditions. The proposed solution is cost- effective, scalable, and well-suited for deployment in rural public distribution systems.

The proposed Offline Biometric Authentication System for Rural Area Ration Shops provides a secure and efficient solution to overcome the challenges of traditional ration distribution systems. By integrating biometric authentication with RFID technology, the system ensures accurate identification of beneficiaries and prevents fraudulent practices such as duplicate and fake entries. The offline functionality makes the system highly suitable for rural and remote areas where internet connectivity is unreliable. Automated verification reduces human errors, speeds up the distribution process, and improves transparency by maintaining accurate transaction records. Additionally, the use of low-cost hardware components and open-source software makes the system economically feasible and easy to maintain. Overall, the proposed system enhances trust, accountability, and efficiency in public distribution systems and can be effectively implemented to improve food security and service delivery in rural communities.

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