40K ration cards blocked in Chamba for pending e-KYC

More than 40,000 ration cards have been blocked in Chamba district due to the failure of cardholders to complete the mandatory e-KYC process. Until these cardholders complete their e-KYC, they will not be able to access ration supplies from government depots. Out of the district’s total 1,38,500 ration cardholders, a significant portion has yet to complete this requirement.

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The deadline for completing e-KYC was extended multiple times by the government and the Food and Supplies Department to ensure that no eligible beneficiary would be deprived of their ration quota due to delays. However, following the expiration of the final deadline on January 15, the department blocked the ration cards of all those who had not complied.

Despite the enforcement action, over 8,000 cardholders completed their e-KYC within 10 days after the cards were blocked. However, around 40,000 cardholders remain non-compliant, resulting in the suspension of their ration entitlements. The blocked cards will be reactivated once the pending e-KYC process is completed.

Purushottam Chauhan, Controller, District Food and Supplies Department, Chamba, has appealed to the remaining cardholders to complete their e-KYC at the earliest. “Those whose cards have been blocked can still reactivate them by completing the e-KYC process. We urge all pending cardholders to act promptly to avoid being deprived of their ration entitlements,” Chauhan said.

With the final deadline having passed, the department emphasises the importance of swift compliance to ensure that no eligible family is left without access to their entitled rations.

The government, through the Food and Civil Supplies Corporation, provides subsidised ration to ensure that low-income and needy families can sustain their households without financial hardship. To ensure that only eligible beneficiaries receive these benefits, the government has made e-KYC mandatory for all ration cardholders.

By enforcing e-KYC, the authorities aim to eliminate discrepancies and prevent ineligible individuals from accessing subsidised or free ration. This initiative aligns with the government’s objective to deliver ration to deserving families.

Chamba district has made significant progress in the e-KYC process, achieving an 80% completion rate overall. Chamba and Salooni blocks have achieved 90-95% e-KYC average while. In Bhattiyat, Mehla, and Tissa, the rate stands at 85%, while Bharmour has achieved 80% e-KYC. Tribal valley Pangi has lagged behind, with only 75% completion, primarily due to network connectivity challenges in remote areas.