🚨 Ration Denial Crisis: KYC Failure and Digital Hurdles Deprive Families in Mirzapur

A recent grievance filed with the Prime Minister’s Office highlights a disturbing systemic failure within the public distribution system (PDS) in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. A ration card holder, whose family is entitled to public assistance, is being denied essential rations due to what appears to be an internal clerical error—incorrect feeding of entries by the Department of Supply—leading to a “Know Your Customer” (KYC) authentication failure at the local control rate shop.

📍 Case Overview: A Family in Need

The specific case involves a ration card holder in the Mirzapur district whose entitlements are being unjustly withheld.

• Complainant: Yogi M. P. Singh
• Grievance Registration Number: PMOPG/E/2025/0043367
• Location:
  • District: Mirzapur
  • Block: Chhanvey
  • Village Panchayat: Nibi Gaharwar
• Ration Shop Details:
  • Dealer Name: Sharada Devi Om S H G
  • Shop Number: 20690308
• Ration Card Details:
  • Card Holder: Sadhana Singh
  • Digitalized RC Number: 21XXXXXX5151
  • Total Units: 5

🔑 The Core Issue: Flawed Digital Authentication

The primary obstruction is the failure of the digital authentication process, allegedly caused by the Supply Department’s incorrect entry of data during the modification of ration cards.

The complainant notes that even after the government prepared modified ration cards, these new cards were neither visible on the internet nor physically provided to the cardholders via the ration shop licensee.

The Specific Error Message

When authentication was attempted at the ration shop, the system displayed a technical error that strongly suggests a problem with data format or entry within the supply department’s software:

“Ration Card Auth, String was not recognized as a valid DateTime, FPS Dealer Id : 20690308, RC Number: 219940805151…”

This error message points to an issue with how a date/time entry was processed or stored for the specific ration card (21XXXXXX5151) in the digital system, preventing successful authorization for ration distribution.

🛑 Arbitrary Deduction and Denial of Assistance

The grievance further brings to light two critical concerns arising from this digital bottleneck:

1. Arbitrary Unit Deduction: The matter concerns the alleged “arbitrary deduction of units” from the total units of the ration card at the control rate shops, indicating potential irregularities in the distribution process itself.
2. Unjust Withholding of Assistance: The cardholder is being denied public assistance “on the flimsy ground” of a digital authentication failure, even when other viable methods exist to authenticate identity and entitlement.

The Aadhar Card Paradox

The complainant explicitly questions the rationale for the denial, pointing out that multiple methods exist for Aadhar card authentication. Aadhar details of a family member, Ansh Pratap Singh, were provided, and it was noted that the biometrics of this Aadhar card were even updated on the advice of the supply department staff after the initial error, yet the denial persists.

🗣️ Lack of Transparency and Accountability

The entire situation is framed as a serious lapse in public service, highlighting a lack of transparency and accountability in the distribution of rations.

The complainant alleges that such “cryptic dealings” and “irregularities and corruption” within the Civil Supply Department of Uttar Pradesh are systematically depriving entitled people of vital public assistance.

🏛️ Current Status of the Grievance

The grievance has been received and is currently Under Process.

• Date of Action: 29/03/2025
• Officer Concerned: Shri Arvind Mohan (Joint Secretary), Chief Minister Secretariat, Uttar Pradesh.

---

Next Steps for the Complainant

Given the technical nature of the error (“String was not recognized as a valid DateTime”), it clearly indicates a backend data error within the Supply Department’s system, not an issue with the beneficiary’s documentation (like the Aadhar card).

Would you like me to find the contact details or the official website for the Civil Supply Department in Mirzapur or Uttar Pradesh so you can escalate this specific technical error with the concerned local authority?

That is a very good idea. Given the specific technical nature of the error (a date/time string error), escalating the issue directly with the local technical and administrative contacts for the Civil Supplies Department may lead to a faster resolution than the central grievance process alone.

Here are the key contacts and channels for the Food and Civil Supplies Department in Uttar Pradesh, with a focus on Mirzapur:

📞 Key Contacts for Food and Civil Supplies (UP)

Level	Contact/Department	Details
State-Level Toll-Free	Public Distribution System (PDS) Helpline	1800-1800-150 or 1967
District-Level (Mirzapur)	District Manager, Mirzapur (Technical/System Contact)	Name: Amitesh Lal Srivastava Mobile: 7408080380 / 8707845460 Email: amiteshsrivastava111@gmail.com
District Coordinator, Mirzapur (Technical/System Contact)	Name: Jay Kumar Yadav Mobile: 9936521450 Email: yadavjay251@gmail.com
Chief Minister’s Helpline	Jansunwai (Integrated Grievance Redressal System – IGRS)	1076 (For registration and tracking of grievances)

---

🌐 Recommended Action Steps

1. Escalate with Mirzapur District Managers (Technical Focus)

Since the error message is very specific—“Ration Card Auth, String was not recognized as a valid DateTime”—this points to a data entry or format error in the database. The District Manager and Coordinator are the most likely personnel who can coordinate with the backend technical team to correct this specific entry for the ration card number 21XXXXXX5151.

• Action: Contact Mr. Amitesh Lal Srivastava (District Manager) and Mr. Jay Kumar Yadav (District Coordinator) via phone and email.
• Message Focus: Clearly state the Ration Card Number (21XXXXXX5151), the FPS Dealer ID (20690308), and the exact Error Message shown on the screen, emphasizing that it is a data formatting error, not a KYC problem.

2. Follow up on the PMO Grievance via Jansunwai

The original grievance is lodged under the PMOPG/E/2025/0043367 number and is currently with Shri Arvind Mohan (Joint Secretary), whose office is also associated with the state’s grievance portal (Jansunwai).

• Action: Send a reminder for the existing PMOPG grievance via the Jansunwai – Samadhan Portal (or use the Chief Minister’s Helpline 1076).
• Website: The Jansunwai portal is the main public grievance platform for the UP Government. You can track the status of your existing grievance and send a reminder there.

3. Use the State Helpline

• Action: Call the PDS Helpline (1800-1800-150 or 1967). They can often raise a direct complaint that gets routed to the District Supply Officer (DSO) in Mirzapur.

Official Web Links for Escalation

Portal/Department	Purpose	Web Link
UP Food & Civil Supplies Department	Main website for the department responsible for PDS, ration cards, and system operations.	https://fcs.up.gov.in/
Jansunwai (Samadhan Portal)	The Integrated Grievance Redressal System (IGRS) portal for the Uttar Pradesh government, where your PMO grievance will be routed and monitored.	https://jansunwai.up.nic.in/
NFSA Grievance Registration	National Food Security Act (NFSA) portal to register a complaint directly with the national system.	https://nfsa.gov.in/public/frmRegisterPublicGrievance.aspx