For quite some time, the department has been urging individuals to complete their eKYC, but due to non-compliance, the Food Supply Department has blocked 46,000 ration cards in Kangra, the largest district in Himachal Pradesh. As a result, many people are leaving government ration shops empty-handed. This marks the most significant action taken in the district regarding eKYC compliance. Currently, the number of ration card holders in the district has decreased from 474,000 to 428,000.
Kangra district has a total of 1,135 ration depots.
The Food Supply Department has indicated that this action affects all categories of ration cards. In Kangra, which encompasses fifteen assembly constituencies, consumers can access affordable rations. The department has implemented measures in every area where consumers have not completed their eKYC. Reports suggest that approximately 200,000 ration cards have been deactivated across the entire state so far.
If a family has five members and only four have completed their eKYC, the entire family’s ration card will still be blocked. This decision has faced opposition, but the department insists that eKYC is a requirement for everyone. Without it, ration access will be halted. Fortunately, eKYC can be completed from home using an app, which will allow the ration card to be reactivated.
According to department official Purushottam Singh, if the e-KYC for a ration card is not completed, it can be done from home using an Android phone without needing a fingerprint or OTP—just a face scan will suffice. This change means consumers can avoid biometric verification at ration depots, providing added convenience for those living away from home. The department has introduced the Mobile PDS HP App to facilitate this process.
