Great news for the many ration card holders. The file concerning the purchase of mustard and refined oil has arrived at the Chief Minister’s office, and now CM Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu is set to make the final call. It’s anticipated that starting next month, around 16 lakh consumers will benefit from receiving mustard oil along with their rations, although it will be available at the L-one price.
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Previously, consumers were paying Rs. 123 and Rs. 129 per litre for mustard oil and Rs. 97 per litre for refined oil until October. However, in the last three months, the price of mustard oil surged to Rs. 150 per litre. Due to this significant price increase, the Chief Minister’s Office sent the file back, requesting that oil be purchased at the previous rates, and preparations for this are already underway. The State Civil Food Supply Corporation is handling the purchasing formalities, while the State Level Purchase Committee will make the decisions. By buying mustard oil in bulk, the government can save Rs. 15 per packet, which will then be passed on to consumers at ration depots.
In a related note, 2.65 lakh families in Himachal Pradesh have had their ration cards temporarily blocked due to not completing the eKYC process, meaning they will no longer receive subsidized rations from this month. These families will need to complete their eKYC to regain access to the affordable ration benefits. The total number of active ration cards has now decreased to about 17 lakh, down from approximately 19.65 lakh. The state government has set the deadline for completing eKYC as December 31, 2024.
Himachal Pradesh Ration Card Holders can complete their eKYC in the following ways:
1. The department has introduced the e-KYC PDS HP App, which is available for Android devices.
2. Users can easily perform their e-KYC from the comfort of their homes by downloading this app from the Google Play Store on their Android smartphones.
3. The e-KYC process can also be completed by having your biometrics verified through a web-based application at any Lokmitra Kendra across the country.
4. To update your mobile number, simply visit the Consumer Transparency Portal at https://epds.hp.gov.in and enter your 12-digit Aadhaar card number under the Update Mobile Number section.
5. Additionally, you can complete your e-KYC by visiting the nearest fair price shop.