The process of public distribution system in the state may face hiccups starting from January 1, 2022, as an internal estimate of Nabanna has revealed that the ration cards of about 30 per cent beneficiaries are yet to be seeded with their Aadhaar cards.

The state has a total of 10.44 crore ration cards and till the first week of December, 3.05 crore cards were not linked with Aadhaar.

Earlier, the Mamata Banerjee government had set a December 31, 2021 deadline to complete seeding and making the process mandatory for distribution under PDS.

“All FPS (fair price shop) dealers are directed to proactively complete eKYC/seeding of Aadhaar with ration cards of all the beneficiaries whose ration cards are not linked with the Aadhaar by 31st December, 2021. They must ensure that Aadhaar seeding is done when food grain is distributed to such beneficiaries,” the order issued by the food and supplies department, in November, read.

The order caused a flutter among ration dealers, who are struggling to complete the process of seeding or linking ration cards with Aadhaar. Many of them fear they may face the wrath of common people if they are denied food grains from January 1 in the wake of their ration cards not seeded with Aadhaar cards.

“The state government has made it clear that the deadline would not be extended beyond December 31. The government has informed us that food grains should be given only to those whose Aadhaar is seeded with ration cards. But more than 30 per cent of cards are yet to be seeded. If so many cards remain unseeded after December 31, we will face trouble as we deal with consumers directly,” said a ration dealer.

Dealers were apprehensive that a number of cards might not be linked with Aadhaar within the deadline as the pace of the job has not been satisfactory.

“Three months ago, 40 per cent cards were not seeded with Aadhaar. After three months, 30 per cent cards are yet to be linked with Aadhaar. It is highly unlikely that all these pending cards will be linked with Aadhaar in this month,” said a senior official.

A section of officials apprehend that the Centre will not release food grains for those beneficiaries, covered under the National Food Security Act, whose ration and Aadhaar cards have not been seeded.

If beneficiaries in crores remain outside the ambit of the free or cheap/subsidised food grains scheme, it could have a huge political impact in the state, the bureaucrats feel.

“Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the ruling party (in Bengal) can’t afford a situation like this," said a source before adding that the state would then have to take up the onus of distributing free food grains to those people. “If that happens, the state may have to spend a handsome amount to give free food grains to them, an extra burden on the state exchequer at a time it is already under severe stress,” said an official.