Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is set to begin distribution of new ration cards to beneficiaries from next month, announced Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Wednesday.
The government will start issuing new ration cards after completion of scrutiny of over ten lakh applications, the Minister said.
Authorities have focused on conducting e-KYC verification of applicants to accurately determine qualified beneficiaries.
Previously, the government had stated that ineligible individuals would be removed from the list of ration card holders under the Food Security Act to maintain integrity in the program.
To guide this process, the government has outlined 12 inclusion criteria for eligible families and 10 exclusion criteria for those who do not qualify.
Officials have been directed to strictly adhere to these standards to ensure that only deserving families receive the new ration cards.