The Odisha government detected over 1.5 lakh ghost ration card holders who had earlier received benefits under the state food security scheme.

The issue came to light after the ration card holders’ e-KYC was scrutinised. Names of all the ghost ration card holders were deleted from the PDS (public distribution system) list.

The government learned about it when it conducted the Aadhaar-based e-KYC verification for the year 2024-25. During the survey, it was revealed that many cardholders had died, but his relatives managed to get benefits under the public distribution system.

Food supplies and consumer welfare minister Krushna Chandra Patra said: “As many as 1,77,068 ghost ration card holders have been deleted from the list. The names of beneficiaries, who have passed away, are deleted from the list. All the new and eligible beneficiaries will get the new ration cards. We will ensure that all the eligible get the
benefits.”.

He was replying to a question on the issue in the state Assembly on Wednesday.

Regarding e-KYC verification, the minister said: “It’s a continuous process, and it will continue in the coming days. Of the 3.36 crore public distribution systembeneficiaries in the state, the e-KYC verification has been completed for 2.69 crore. We will ensure food security for all deserving families.”

The state has received 6.19 lakh new applications for ration cards. In a related development, the food commission on Wednesday reached Mandipanka village in Kandhamal district where three tribal women died after eating the mango kernel gruel. It has been alleged that the women were forced to eat the mango kernel gruel as the rice under the public distribution system did not reach them.