Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will suspend the ration cards of nearly 20.58 lakh people for not completing the e-KYC verification.
This was informed by Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Monday.
Speaking to the media, Minister Patra said the last day for e-KYC (Know Your Customer) verification was Monday.
The e-KYC verification drive was launched across the state in August 2024 to remove ineligible and deceased beneficiaries from the national and state food security schemes. The deadline was extended multiple times.
“We are planning to suspend the ration cards of 20.58 lakh beneficiaries who have not completed their e-KYC verification by the deadline. We will provide them a three-month window period. During these three months, their rice quota will not be issued, so that all genuine beneficiaries will come to the fair price shops to claim their rice quota,” Patra said.
“Whenever they visit the PDS stores, we will conduct their e-KYC verification and renew their ration cards,” the minister added.
He further stated that the government will deactivate the ration cards of beneficiaries who do not appear at the PDS stores during this period.
According to available data, a total of 3.25 crore people in the state are beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), while another 6.48 lakh people are covered under the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS).
