Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has extended the deadline for ration card holders to update their e-KYC under the food security program until March 31, 2025.
The announcement was made by Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra, on Saturday.
The extension comes in response to issues faced by people due to poor network coverage in remote areas.
“Over 30 lakh people have not updated their e-KYC because of network problems. With the new deadline, they will have more time to complete the process and continue receiving benefits,” Patra said.
Around 90% of people have already completed their e-KYC and many have returned their ration cards.
Patra also mentioned that efforts are underway to improve network coverage with new devices being set up at 341 locations across the state. Currently, 230 areas have no network and 111 are facing slow internet speeds.
Lastly, Patra urged ineligible beneficiaries to surrender their cards to avoid any legal action.