Mandatory Annual Biometric Verification Introduced To Prevent Name Deletion

In a major administrative policy shift, the Food Supply Department has introduced stringent new guidelines for all Ration Card beneficiaries across Jharkhand. Under the newly implemented mandate, every family member listed on a Ration Card must now visit their local Public Distribution System (PDS) outlet and complete biometric thumbprint verification at least once within a 12-month window. Moving away from the previous one-time e-KYC model, failure to register individual biometric authentication for an entire year will result in the automatic deletion of that specific member's name from the official beneficiary register.Family Rotational Biometrics Enforced: DSO Pankaj Kumar Warns Non-Active Beneficiaries Face CancellationElaborating on the procedural changes, Ranchi District Supply Officer (DSO) Pankaj Kumar clarified that for a household card containing multiple names—such as five registered members—it is no longer sufficient for only the head of the family to collect monthly food grains. If other family members fail to provide their thumb impressions on the electronic Point of Sale (e-PoS) machine over a period of 12 consecutive months, their individual KYC status will lapse, triggering removal from the system. PDS dealers across the region have received strict instructions to assist families in rotating biometric authentication among all listed dependents during monthly ration distributions.Labor Protests Erupt At FCI Godowns Over Direct Door Step Delivery System DisruptionsAlongside the biometric compliance directives, administrative reforms in grain distribution have sparked local labor unrest in Ranchi. Dozens of workers attached to State Food and Civil Supplies Corporation (SSFC) godowns staged a protest outside Food Corporation of India (FCI) facilities on Friday. The demonstration follows the launch of the government's new Direct Door Step Delivery (DSD) mechanism, which streamlines grain transport directly to PDS dealers. Labor representatives expressed grave concerns that bypassing intermediate SSFC godowns has created an immediate employment crisis, rendering approximately 200 loading and unloading workers financially vulnerable.