Ration cards are very much like Aadhaar cards for many people today. Ration cards are the only means of accessing food for some families as many families in India are still unable to feed themselves at least twice a day. Ration cards help provide food through the National Food Security Act of India’s government, which is a federal program. Under the National Food Security Act, individuals with ration cards may access essential food items such as rice, lentils, and wheat at discounted prices.
In addition to this, there have been numerous recent reports about beneficiaries experiencing difficulty with their ration cards — some have even reported that they do not receive regular food from the central government. Accordingly, the Indian government has now issued a notice with respect to the timeliness of completing a requirement for their ration card; if the requisite action is not taken in a timely manner, they may face suspension of their benefits and will not receive food. If you have a ration card, make sure to take the actions specified in this notice as soon as you can.
What is this new rule?
The central government is now becoming strict regarding ration cards. Many rules are being tightened. According to the new guidelines, KYC (Know Your Customer) verification has been made mandatory to keep ration cards active. Those who do not complete e-KYC will not receive rations.
The government has clearly stated that e-KYC is important to ensure that the benefits of this government ration scheme reach the deserving and legitimate individuals. Without KYC, there is a possibility of fraud. The decision to update e-KYC has been taken to prevent this fraud.
Now, ration cardholders must mandatorily update their e-KYC. For this, you need to visit your nearest ration dealer or Public Service Center with your Aadhaar card and ration card. There, you will have to verify your biometrics through your Aadhaar card.
Incidentally, several states currently also offer the facility of online KYC. You can update your KYC by logging in to the online portal from your mobile or computer using your Aadhaar number and the OTP received on your registered mobile number.
Those who have biometric or fingerprint issues will have to update their Aadhaar KYC at an offline center. Only after this KYC update will they be able to avail the benefits of the ration card.