 Early Times Report
LEH, Oct 14: The Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri Kavinder Gupta, today emphasised the need for expediting the distribution of Smart Public Distribution System (PDS) cards across the Union Territory to ensure uninterrupted food security for all citizens, particularly those residing in remote and high-altitude regions.
Chairing a meeting at the LG Secretariat, the Lieutenant Governor highlighted that the Smart PDS cards-designed to replace traditional paper ration cards-offer a more durable and secure system with electronic authentication features. These cards, he said, will not only streamline the delivery of subsidised food grains and essential commodities but will also serve as an official identification tool to access multiple government welfare schemes under the One Nation, One Ration Card (ONORC) initiative.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Tsering Angchuk; Executive Councillor, LAHDC Kargil, Er Punchok Tashi; Secretary, FCS&CA, Rahul Sharma; Director, FCS&CA, Tahir Hussain; Head of the DFPD Informatics Division, NIC, Meenu Arora and team; and other officials from the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department.
During the discussion, the Lt Governor asked the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to resolve technical and e-KYC-related issues-including Aadhaar seeding errors, legacy data problems, and internet connectivity challenges-on a priority basis. He directed NIC to conduct special handholding and training sessions for local officials to ensure smooth functioning and early completion of the e-KYC process.
Highlighting the urgency, the Lt Governor said that delays in resolving these issues could adversely affect beneficiaries in remote regions, especially during the winter months when several areas remain cut off due to heavy snowfall. He emphasised that timely completion of Smart PDS card distribution is critical to ensure that no household is deprived of essential supplies during this period. Earlier, officials from FCS&CA briefed the Hon'ble Lt Governor about the ongoing challenges in issuing Smart PDS cards, particularly in the addition and deletion of beneficiaries. They requested NIC's technical support and on-ground assistance to expedite the process.
Reiterating his government's commitment to ensuring food security and digital efficiency, the Lt Governor, Kavinder Gupta called upon all departments to work in close coordination and ensure that every eligible household in Ladakh receives its Smart PDS card at the earliest.
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