LEH: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, has directed officials to expedite 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 review meeting at the LG Secretariat, the Lieutenant Governor said the Smart PDS cards, which replace traditional paper ration cards, will enhance transparency, security, and convenience through electronic authentication features. The cards are designed to facilitate delivery of subsidised food grains and essential commodities, while also serving as an official identification 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 DFPD Informatics Division, NIC, Meenu Arora; and other officials.
During the discussions, LG Gupta asked the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to address technical and e-KYC-related issues—including Aadhaar seeding errors, legacy data mismatches, and poor connectivity—on a priority basis. He also instructed NIC to hold special training and handholding sessions for field officers to speed up the e-KYC process.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasised that delays could impact ration distribution during the winter months, when several areas remain cut off due to heavy snowfall. He underscored that timely completion of Smart PDS card distribution is critical to prevent any household from being deprived of essential supplies.
Reiterating his government’s commitment to digital transformation and food security, LG Gupta urged all departments to coordinate closely and ensure that every eligible household in Ladakh receives its Smart PDS card at the earliest.
