No last date extension for ration card e-KYC, informs Odisha minister

As many as 37L beneficiaries are yet to complete the electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) verification process required for ration cards, with the deadline set firmly on the 15th of this month, informed Minister for Food Supply and Consumer Welfare, Krushna Chandra Patra adding no extensions will be granted.

They will lose their ration card eligibility if they fail to complete their E-KYC verification by the established deadline. This move will allow new applications to be considered in place of the non-compliant existing cardholders, the Minister informed.

Minister Patra directed government officers who currently possess a ration card to relinquish them immediately. Non-compliance after the set surrender period will result in disciplinary action. A number of government officials have already complied with these requirements, and their details are being verified. Once this process is complete, new applicants will be able to apply for ration cards through the official portal, he added.

Speaking to media persons, Minister Krushna Chandra Patra informed, “The e-KYC process is underway and will come to an end on Feb 15. Around 37L people are yet to complete their pending e-KYC. If they do not do it on or before Feb 15, we will confirm that they are all ineligible beneficiaries and have surrendered themselves. Their names will all be blacklisted.” 

“Most government officers who were taking advantage of ration cards have surrendered their cards. To all those who have not surrendered, I request them all to surrender, if they do not want to face action. Otherwise, action will be taken if they are found guilty later,” the Minister added.