BOMDILA, AUG 19:
West Kameng Deputy Commissioner Dr Dilip Kumar reviewed the progress of e-KYC under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, for beneficiaries covered through Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in West Kameng and Bichom districts at a meeting held at the DC’s Conference Hall here on Tuesday.
The DC stressed the need for expediting the exercise and improving the district’s performance. According to the ePOS portal, e-KYC coverage in the district stood at 56 per cent as of August 19.
West Kameng District Food and Civil Supplies Officer briefed the meeting on the importance of e-KYC and presented circle-wise progress. FPS owners from different areas also shared updates and field-level challenges.
A major concern raised was the absence of Aadhaar cards among some beneficiaries, particularly elderly persons. Responding to the issue, Dr Kumar said Aadhaar was important for accessing various government welfare schemes and assured that targeted enrolment and integration drives would be undertaken. He also urged FPS owners to sensitise villagers and facilitate Aadhaar enrolment.
FPS owners also reported difficulties in biometric authentication, particularly among farmers whose fingerprints have become rough or scarred due to regular agricultural work. The Deputy Commissioner directed FPS owners to keep water and handwash available at FPS outlets to improve fingerprint authentication.
The meeting also discussed discrepancies between data displayed on ePOS machines and the SmartPDS portal. Officials informed that the National Informatics Centre (NIC) was working to resolve the technical issues.
Concerns were also raised over non-allocation of foodgrains against revised feeding strengths reflected on SmartPDS, which has affected the issuance of BPL ration cards and awareness among newly approved beneficiaries.
The DC directed FPS owners to intensify awareness campaigns and encourage beneficiaries to complete mandatory e-KYC at the earliest. He said necessary action could be initiated against beneficiaries who fail to complete the process within the stipulated period.
To encourage timely completion, Dr Kumar announced that a certificate of appreciation would be presented on Republic Day 2027 to the first FPS owner achieving 100 per cent e-KYC coverage.
The meeting concluded with officials and FPS owners reaffirming their commitment to expediting the process and ensuring coverage of all eligible beneficiaries under the NFSA. (DIPR)
