Deadline Looming: Update e-KYC for Ration Cards by July 31 or Risk Losing Benefits

The Virudhunagar district administration has set a deadline of July 31 for all family card (ration card) holders to complete their e-KYC (electronic Know Your Customer) verification by registering their fingerprints. Failure to do so may result in the suspension of subsidized food grain entitlements under the Public Distribution System (PDS).

District Collector N.O. Sukhaputra issued a statement urging all members listed in family cards who have not yet completed the e-KYC process to visit their local ration shops to register their fingerprints. For those who are away from home due to employment, the Collector clarified that they can visit the nearest ration shop in their current location to complete the verification.

Additionally, families with deceased members must approach the Taluk Supply Officer by July 25 to have those names removed from the card. Required documents, such as a death certificate, must be produced. Alternatively, families may submit a copy of the deceased member's Aadhaar card to the ration shop salesman. This step is crucial to prevent fraudulent claims and ensure that benefits reach only eligible beneficiaries.

The Collector also addressed those whose Aadhaar cards lack updated biometrics. Such individuals must first update their fingerprints at an Aadhaar e-Seva Centre before proceeding with e-KYC. These centres are operational in all 10 taluk offices across the district. The Collector emphasized that biometrics are essential for the e-KYC process, as they provide a secure layer of identity verification.

Providing a progress update, the Collector stated that out of a total of 18,00,580 members enrolled in family cards in the district, only 1,63,482 have completed the e-KYC update so far. This leaves a significant portion of cardholders at risk of losing access to essential subsidized rations such as rice, wheat, sugar, and kerosene.

The e-KYC initiative is part of a nationwide effort by the central and state governments to clean up PDS databases, eliminate duplicates and ghost beneficiaries, and ensure that subsidies reach the intended recipients. The Department of Food and Public Distribution has mandated the integration of Aadhaar with ration cards to enhance transparency and efficiency.

Residents are advised to act promptly to avoid any disruption in their food grain supplies. For assistance, they can contact their local ration shop or the Taluk Supply Office. The Collector's office has assured that additional help desks will be set up if needed to manage the expected rush before the deadline.