Gujarat ration shops shut over E-KYC

Ahmedabad

Over 17,000 fair price shops across Gujarat have remained shut since June 1, as ration dealers launched a statewide strike opposing the government’s mandatory E-KYC policy for ration card holders. The protest has disrupted the Public Distribution System (PDS), affecting nearly 3.75 crore beneficiaries, especially from poor and rural communities.

The Gujarat Fair Price Shops and Kerosene License Holders Association, along with the All Gujarat Fair Price Shop Association, called the strike, criticising the E-KYC requirement as “unjust and impractical,” particularly for residents in remote areas with poor internet connectivity and low digital literacy.

Shopkeepers are demanding the rollback of the E-KYC mandate and a revision of the commission structure. They want the commission rate increased from ₹1.50 to ₹3 per kilogram of grain and are urging the government to ease the eligibility norm for a ₹20,000 monthly incentive—from 97% grain distribution to 93%.

The E-KYC policy, implemented since May 13, has already prevented thousands from accessing subsidised food grains due to verification issues. “This is my fourth visit. We poor people need grain to survive,” said a distressed beneficiary in Ahmedabad.

Fair price shops serve as the backbone of Gujarat’s PDS, distributing wheat, rice, sugar, and kerosene to Antyodaya and Priority Households. The network has also been crucial in relief efforts during COVID-19 and through the One Nation One Ration Card scheme. With no resolution in sight, shopkeepers warn the strike will continue until the government meets their demands.