Burden of proof

The government's drive for e-KYC verification to ensure rightful targeting of beneficiaries has proved exclusionary for many

- SHAGUN

ON MAY 16, 2024 when Chunni Bai Salvi, a resident of Aasan village in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district, went to her nearest fair price shop (FPS), the dealer informed her about the mandatory electronic-know your customer (e-KYC) process being implemented. He told Salvi that without completing e-KYC, she could soon be unable to receive her monthly entitlement of 5 kg of wheat under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.

The KYC process requires in-person verification of each family member listed on the ration card. Individuals must authenticate their identity using fingerprints and Aadhaar card, which must be linked to their ration card.

Salvi attempted multiple times but the electronic point-of-sale machine failed to capture her fingerprints that are worn out due to age and a life spent doing manual labour. She left. That turned out to be the last time Salvi received her 5 kg wheat ration. When she returned to collect her ration in June, the dealer informed her that her ration card stands deleted because her e-KYC is incomplete.

Enacted to protect the most vulnerable sections of society against food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition, NFSA legally entitles roughly 75 per cent of the rural population and 50 per cent of the urban population, to subsidised food grains. This comes to about 810 million peopleor two-thirds of India's population- which gets foodgrains under this scheme and will have to mandatorily get its biometric verification complete, making this the largest such digitisation drive.

"I go to the panchayat, I go to the block office, I fill out forms. Nothing happens. I've been without my pension for over a year now"

Pani Khema Ram, Oda village, Rajsamand