Deadline looms: Ration card holders urged to complete EKYC process by Feb end

Srinagar, Feb 24: The Director of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) in Kashmir has issued a reminder to all ration card holders, urging them to complete the Electronic Know Your Customer (EKYC) process by the end of February. The move comes as part of the ongoing Aadhar card and ration card linking initiative aimed at ensuring accurate authentication of beneficiaries.
An official from the department said the verification process is underway, aligning with Aadhar KYC procedures to verify family members within households. He said the initiative also includes removing deceased beneficiaries from ration cards to maintain updated beneficiary information based on Aadhar card details.
Previously, only the head of the family or the spouse’s EKYC was required. However, the new mandate necessitates all members of the ration card to provide and verify their Aadhaar numbers with the civil supplies department.
The government’s directive emphasises the mandatory linking of Aadhaar and synchronisation of data for all family members of ration cardholders.
Speaking to Rising Kashmir, the Director of FCS&CA Kashmir, Bashir Ahmad Khan said that over 75 percent of Aadhar EKYC processes have been completed to date. To expedite the process, the department’s employees are conducting door-to-door visits to facilitate EKYC completion, he said.
Khan warned of strict action against the use of fake ration cards and emphasized the importance of complying with the EKYC mandate.
The public announcement specifies February 29, 2024, as the deadline for completing the EKYC process. Failure to update EKYC details by this date will result in automatic deletion from ration cards, affecting access to essential supplies.
The Director urged the people to take immediate action to update their EKYC information to prevent disruptions in accessing ration supplies. For further assistance, the people can contact the relevant authorities designated for EKYC updates, he said.
This announcement aims to streamline the ration distribution system and minimize inconvenience for residents in Kashmir and beyond, the Director said.