LG Kavinder Gupta Calls for Expedited Smart PDS Card Distribution in Ladakh
Leh: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, has directed officials to accelerate the distribution of Smart Public Distribution System (PDS) cards across the Union Territory to ensure uninterrupted food security, especially for residents in remote and high-altitude areas.
Chairing a meeting at the LG Secretariat, the Lieutenant Governor underscored that Smart PDS cards—set to replace traditional ration cards—will offer a secure, durable, and digitally verifiable system. These cards will not only streamline the delivery of subsidised food grains and essential commodities but also serve as valid identification for accessing 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 senior officials from the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department.
During the deliberations, the Lt Governor directed the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to address all technical and e-KYC-related issues—such as Aadhaar seeding errors, legacy data mismatches, and poor internet connectivity—on a priority basis. He further instructed NIC to conduct dedicated training and handholding sessions for local officials to ensure smooth and timely completion of the e-KYC process.
Emphasising the urgency of the task, the Lt Governor warned that any delay in resolving these challenges could severely affect beneficiaries in remote regions, particularly during the winter months when heavy snowfall cuts off many areas. He stressed that completing the Smart PDS card distribution before winter is crucial to ensure that no household is deprived of essential supplies.
Officials from the FCS&CA Department briefed the Lt Governor on the ongoing difficulties in adding and deleting beneficiaries and sought NIC’s on-ground support to speed up the process.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to ensuring food security through digital governance, Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta called on all departments to work in close coordination so that every eligible household in Ladakh receives its Smart PDS card at the earliest.
