The Odisha government announced on Tuesday, October 14, that free PDS rice, which is rice under the Public Distribution system, will not be given to ration card holders who have not completed electronic know your customer (e-KYC) verification, from the month of November. Odisha Food and Supplies Minister Krushna Chandra Patra informed that the decision has been taken in conformity to the centre’s instruction to all states, making e-KYC verification mandatory for all ration cardholders for receiving the benefit under the food security scheme.
Unverified ration cardholders provided with the free PDS rice till October
Further, the minister stated that around 15.67 lakh beneficiaries across the state are unverified after the continuous extension of deadlines for self-authentication. These unverified beneficiaries have been provided with the free rice under food security scheme till October. However, the government has decided to halt the distribution to those unverified ration card holders that is who have not completed e-KYC, from next month.
Moreover, he highlighted that the state government will consider genuine cases where beneficiaries have not been able to complete the e-KYC process due to reasons beyond their control. In these cases, the beneficiaries will have to cite the reasons to the authorities concerned in writing. The department, after review, will continue the supply of PDS rice to deserving ones. The Minister said: “the government is committed to making sure that all deserving persons are covered under the food security net. The e-KYC policy of the government is not intended to harass anyone. Instead, it seeks to improve accountability and ensure that benefits reach the right people”.