Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Oct 10: The Goa Civil Supplies Department has announced that ration cards of households that fail to collect their monthly ration quota for six consecutive months will be temporarily deactivated under the SMART Public Distribution System (SMART-PDS).
The measure, which came into effect on October 1, follows the Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Amendment Order, 2025, and directives issued by the Government of India. It aims to improve the accuracy of beneficiary records and ensure that subsidised foodgrains reach eligible households.
According to an official notice issued by the assistant director of the department, ration cards with no successful ration-lifting transaction for six consecutive months will be identified on the 21st of every month. The identified cards will be automatically deactivated from the first day of the following month.
During the deactivation period, the ration cards will remain visible in the system, but beneficiaries will not be permitted to collect their ration quota. No foodgrain allocation will be made against the deactivated cards until the required verification process is completed.
The department has stated that affected households must complete the electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) process for all family members and undergo verification within three months of deactivation. Failure to complete the process within the stipulated period will result in the deletion of the ration card from the system.
The notification also covers duplicate beneficiaries identified through Aadhaar-based matching with the Central Repository, whether the duplication is detected within Goa or in another state.
Such beneficiaries will be temporarily deactivated, and an SMS alert will be sent to the head of the concerned household. They will then have three months to complete e-KYC and submit the necessary documents for verification.
Officials said eligible beneficiaries would be retained on the appropriate ration card after successful verification. Those who fail to complete the prescribed formalities within the deadline will be removed from the system.
The department has advised affected beneficiaries to approach their respective Civil Supplies Taluka Offices without delay to complete the necessary formalities and avoid losing their ration benefits.
The move is intended to eliminate duplicate entries, identify inactive ration cards and strengthen transparency in the public distribution system. By updating beneficiary records, the department aims to ensure that foodgrain subsidies are provided to genuine and active beneficiaries in accordance with government guidelines.