Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Nearly 20.58 lakh people’s ration cards will be suspended by the Odisha government for failing to complete the e-KYC verification. Krushna Chandra Patra, Minister of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, made this announcement on Monday. Minister Patra told reporters that Monday was the deadline for e-KYC (Know Your Customer) verification. In August 2024, the state-wide e-KYC verification effort was started in order to eliminate deceased and ineligible recipients from the state and federal food security programs. The deadline was repeatedly postponed.
“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 said that beneficiaries who do not visit the PDS outlets during this time would have their ration cards deactivated by the government. Based on the information that is currently available, the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS) covers 6.48 lakh individuals, while the National Food Security Act (NFSA) benefits 3.25 crore people in the state.
