Mandatory Aadhaar OTPs are depriving the marginalised of food rations in Jharkhand

In July, Hamida*, a resident of Manika block in Jharkhand’s Latehar district, had to add the names of her two children to her ration card. As the head of her household, 39-year-old Hamida had to ensure her sons – both under the age of 15 – are named on the ration to receive additional entitlements and other linked welfare schemes.

At the Common Service Centre, the operator told Hamida that a one time password, or OTP, was required to proceed with her application on the state’s Ration Card Management System portal. Hamida checked her phone several times but no OTP arrived. The operator then read the popup message on the screen that said her phone number had to be linked to her Aadhaar.

Hamida was confused. A few months before in December 2023, she had submitted an application to add her eldest son’s name to the ration card without entering an OTP.

What changed?

About a year ago during our usual field trips to study the public distribution system, we noticed some confusion and difficulties among people in changing their ration card details.

Earlier, only the ration card number and the Aadhaar number of the head of the household was needed to access the Jharkhand Ration Card Management…

Read more