Deadline ends, but ration supply to continue for BPL and Antyodaya cardholders without e-KYC

Mangaluru: Although the deadline set by the government for completing e-KYC for BPL (Below Poverty Line) and Antyodaya ration cardholders has ended, the supply of rations will continue until further orders.

In Dakshina Kannada district, 17,778 beneficiaries are yet to complete their e-KYC process, while in Udupi district, the number stands at 3,301. Dakshina Kannada has 22,871 Antyodaya and 2,58,910 BPL cardholders, whereas Udupi has 1,98,265 BPL and Antyodaya cardholders in total. Authorities have also identified 673 ineligible ration cards.

Beneficiaries can complete their e-KYC process for free at fair price shops, Karnataka One and Grama One centres.

Bantwal taluk has the highest number of pending e-KYC cases in Dakshina Kannada with 4,552, followed by Byndoor taluk in Udupi with 2,242. In contrast, most of the e-KYC in Sullia taluk has been completed, with only 78 cases remaining. In Kundapura, 28 cardholders are yet to complete the process. Officials said that many have been unable to complete e-KYC due to migration to other districts or states for employment or personal reasons. Such individuals can visit nearby ration shops with valid documents to complete the process.

In the district, 10,128 individuals, including bedridden patients and those unable to complete biometric verification, have requested exemptions. Exemption certificates have been issued through the department, and the authorities have assured that they will be accommodated in a phased manner.

Officials clarified that e-KYC was made mandatory for all cardholders listed in the ration card nearly four years ago. The process is considered complete only if all family members listed under a single card have completed their e-KYC. In cases where a family member has passed away, their name must be reported to the department for removal from the card.

With the final deadline now over, there is currently no information about any extension. For bedridden individuals who cannot provide fingerprints, e-KYC can be completed using iris scans through ration shops. The Food and Civil Supplies Department of Dakshina Kannada reiterated that these services are available free of cost at fair price shops.