Ludhiana (Khurana) – While the E-KYC process for ration card holders is underway across Punjab and the country, lakhs of beneficiaries in the state are yet to complete the verification despite repeated appeals by the Centre, state government, and the Food & Civil Supplies Department.

In Ludhiana district alone, out of 4,40,474 smart ration card holder families, comprising 16,93,249 members, nearly 2,17,336 beneficiaries have still not completed their E-KYC. Officials warn that such families may face disruption in receiving free wheat under the government’s welfare schemes.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), eligible families are currently receiving free wheat for three months—from 1 October to 31 December. Each member listed on the ration card is entitled to 5 kg of wheat per month, totalling 15 kg for the quarter.

According to data released by the Food & Civil Supplies Department:

• In East Ludhiana, 8,76,291 beneficiaries are registered, of which 88.96% have completed E-KYC.

• In West Ludhiana, out of 8,16,958 registered beneficiaries, only 85.24% have completed E-KYC.

This puts the overall district completion rate at 87.16%, leaving 12.84% families unverified.

Authorities note that multiple free E-KYC camps and awareness drives were organised, and the deadline was extended several times to ensure that no deserving family misses out on free ration. However, the remaining beneficiaries have still not come forward.

This incomplete E-KYC coverage has also raised concerns of possible fraud and large-scale black marketing of government-supplied wheat, allegedly involving ration depot holders and some department staff.

Meanwhile, the Ration Depot Holders’ Association maintains that many beneficiaries—especially migrant families from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and other states—have returned to their native villages, which is why E-KYC figures remain incomplete. The matter, they argue, requires a high-level investigation.