Dairy farmers in neighbouring the Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh have been issued with a debit-cum-ATM cards that do not require a personal identification number, or PIN, and instead rely on biometric identification — the card holder's thumb impression.

The ATMs in the area incorporate the latest biometric technology to enable farmers to be able to undertake withdrawal transactions. The cardholder has to put his or her thumb on the reader instead of punching in the PIN. The money is safe as no one can steal the PIN to make an unauthorised withdrawal.

The local dairy farmers in the region earn their livelihood selling milk to the co-operative unions and many of them cannot read or write.

The cards were distributed to them at the India Food Expo-2007 organised by the Indian Industries Association (IIA).