Odisha halts free rice for 15 lakh+ unverified beneficiaries

17-Oct-2025 03:51 PM

Bhubaneswar. The Odisha government has announced that free rice distribution will be halted under the National and State Food Security Schemes to over 1.5 million beneficiaries who have not completed the e-KYC (Know Your Customer) process. Instead, the quota for beneficiaries who have completed the process will be doubled. This new rule will come into effect next month (November).

The Odisha Food Supply Minister stated that this decision was made in line with the central government's guidelines making KYC mandatory for all ration card holders.

KYC is required to avail of the Public Distribution System (PDS). According to the Food Supply Minister, 15.67 lakh beneficiaries have been identified across the state of Odisha who, despite repeated warnings, have not yet completed their KYC verification.

The deadline for this has been extended several times. Such beneficiaries are being provided rice until October, but distribution will be stopped from next month.

According to the Food Supply Minister, if the central government grants permission, an extension of the KYC verification period may be considered.

While the names of beneficiaries who fail to undergo verification will be removed from the list, the state government plans to double the monthly quota of free rice under the PDS from the current 5 kg to 10 kg.

This 10 kg monthly quota will be for beneficiaries or ration card holders whose KYC verification has been successfully completed.

The Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Department will soon submit a proposal to this effect to the Chief Minister of the state for final approval. Many beneficiaries have consistently complained that the current quota is insufficient and needs to be increased.