Alappuzha: In Kerala, lakhs of ration cardholders face the possibility of their cards being invalidated due to name mismatches between Aadhaar and ration card details. The issue arose during the state’s e-KYC (Know Your Customer) process, which was initiated to verify beneficiaries at ration shops using electronic Point of Sale (e-POS) machines. While many individuals assumed they had successfully completed the e-KYC process after submitting their fingerprints at the e-POS machines, they were unaware that their e-KYC could be invalidated during reviews conducted at the taluk supply offices.
The primary cause of this invalidation is a name mismatch between the Aadhaar and ration card details. If this discrepancy exceeds 30 percent, the e-KYC is not considered valid, potentially leading to the withholding of food supplies. Civil Supplies authorities had previously flagged this issue to the state government, but no definitive action has yet been taken to address the problem for those whose e-KYC is invalidated.
To date, approximately 1.56 crore e-KYC processes have been completed for yellow and pink ration cardholders in Kerala. However, over 20 lakh beneficiaries are still awaiting verification, and this number is expected to rise as more cases are reviewed. For individuals who were unable to complete the e-KYC due to mismatched fingerprints, iris scans may be required to finalize the process. However, iris scanners are not available at ration shops, creating further complications. Alternative methods may need to be implemented to resolve these cases.
As the deadline for completing the e-KYC process approaches, a decision regarding the invalidated ration cards is anticipated. The situation has caused widespread concern, with many worried about the potential loss of their ration card benefits.
