Smart PDS: Kerala may freeze 48,000 ration cards in first phase; state to write to Centre

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Around 48,000 ration cards in Kerala may be frozen in the first phase under the Centre's Scheme for Modernisation and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System (Smart PDS). The first phase, which will begin on October 1, will cover cards that have not been used to purchase ration for more than six months. Around six lakh cards will subsequently be frozen in several phases.

A frozen card will be reactivated only if all members listed on it complete biometric e-KYC through the e-POS machines at ration shops within 90 days. Otherwise, the cards will be cancelled. If priority cards, including yellow and pink cards, are cancelled, Kerala's share of ration from the Centre could be reduced proportionately. Kerala had shared the details of ration card holders with the Centre in 2024 based on a memorandum of understanding signed as part of the Smart PDS initiative. Meanwhile, a high-level meeting chaired by Minister Anoop Jacob decided to write to the Centre opposing the move to freeze the cards.

Among the priority-category cards, 5,370 yellow cards under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and 38,909 pink cards under the Priority Household (PHH) category have not been used to purchase ration. These two categories together have 66,701 beneficiaries. Around 4,000 blue and white cards in the non-priority category have also not been used to purchase ration for more than six months. Since Kerala provides ration to these beneficiaries from the Centre's tied-over allocation, the state's ration quota will not be reduced even if these cards are cancelled.

Centre to freeze 1.58 crore ration cards

NEW DELHI: The Union Food Ministry is set to freeze 1.58 crore ration cards across the country that have not been used for the past six months. The move is part of efforts to update the database of the public distribution system and remove inactive and fake beneficiaries. However, cards of genuine beneficiaries will be reactivated if they successfully complete the e-KYC process and establish their eligibility within three months.