How Tech is Ensuring Food Reaches the Right People in Himachal

The State Government has launched a heartfelt initiative to make sure its Public Distribution System (PDS) truly serves the people it’s meant for. By embracing the e-KYC process, they’re bringing a new level of transparency and efficiency to the system. This initiative securely links Aadhaar numbers with ration cards, acting as a safeguard to ensure that vital government benefits, like subsidized food grains, are delivered to genuine families in need. The ultimate goal is to compassionately remove fake or ineligible names, making sure no family is left behind.

The journey began in May 2022, and initially, many beneficiaries embraced the change, with about 60% completing their e-KYC at their local Fair Price Shops. However, the process hit a temporary slowdown due to funding challenges. Undeterred, the state’s dedicated technical team worked to create their own, homegrown e-KYC application, which was proudly launched in July 2023. This innovation made it simpler for people to verify their identity using just their Aadhaar and fingerprint at their local shop.

Thanks to this new app, participation saw a significant boost, rising to 77% by July 2024. Yet, the state listened to its people and recognized that many living in remote and hilly areas were still facing hardships. For them, the journey to a distribution center was difficult, and fingerprint verification sometimes failed.

In a powerful response to these challenges, the government introduced a groundbreaking mobile app. This new tool allowed beneficiaries to complete their e-KYC from the comfort of their homes using Aadhaar-based facial recognition. No longer did distance or fingerprint issues stand in the way.

The impact was transformative. After the introduction of this compassionate, face-authentication technology, e-KYC completion rates soared from 77% to an incredible 97% by March 2025.

This Aadhaar-linked verification has truly revolutionized the Public Distribution System. It has cleaned up records, eliminated duplicates, and created a process that is not only faster but also built on trust. This success story is a testament to how thoughtful technology can touch lives, ensuring that every resource is used wisely and reaches the people who need it most.