Most people in the country still cannot afford to eat two meals a day. For them, the central government’s ration scheme is the main support. Under this scheme, families with ration cards get rice, wheat, flour, and other items at very low prices. But to continue getting this benefit, some important steps must be taken. If not, the ration card may be cancelled.
Ration Card Update: e-KYC is Now Mandatory
The central government has made a new rule for ration card holders. If you have not done e-KYC, you may lose your ration benefits. The government has clearly said that names of people who have not completed e-KYC will be removed from the ration list. This step has been taken to stop the use of fake ration cards and make sure that only real and needy people get the benefits. From now on, Aadhaar-based biometric verification is necessary.
Who Will Be Affected and How to Do e-KYC
Those who have not completed e-KYC may face problems. Their ration benefits can be stopped, and later, their names may be permanently deleted from the ration list. It may also become hard to apply again in the future.
There are two ways to do e-KYC — online and offline. In the offline method, you have to visit the nearest ration dealer or public service center with your Aadhaar card. After biometric verification, your e-KYC will be done within minutes. For the online method, you have to visit the official website of your state’s ration department. There, select the e-KYC or Aadhaar update option, enter your ration card and Aadhaar number, and complete the process using the OTP sent to your mobile.
The government has also said that if e-KYC is not done within the fixed time, ration benefits will stop. Each state has set its own deadline. So, it is better to visit your nearest ration office or service center to check your status.
India has a population of over 130 crore. A large number of people still live below the poverty line. The aim of this rule is to make sure that only the poor get ration and no one misuses the scheme with fake cards.