Outrage Over E-KYC Process for Scholarships: 8 Days of Struggles, Hungry Children Faint, Parents Demand System Changes

Making E-KYC mandatory in the ration card for scholarships has created difficulties for the common person. In Mehsana district, children, parents, and teachers have put aside their studies, teaching, and daily work to get the E-KYC process completed. Applicants are facing significant challenges at the Mehsana Mamlatdar office.

Applicants Line Up Before Office Opens Due to E-KYC Requirements for Scholarships

With E-KYC now mandatory in ration cards for students to receive scholarships, there has been a large crowd of students and parents at the Mehsana Mamlatdar office. 

Since only one deputy Mamlatdar is available to handle the ID verification, the process has slowed down. As a result, applicants are lining up in the campus even before the office opens.

Last Date for E-KYC Process is September 30

As of Tuesday, out of the total 1.46 lakh children in the district, 68,650 students have submitted online applications for scholarships, with 29,500 students having completed the E-KYC process. 

Government primary school students from grades 1 to 5 receive a scholarship of ₹1,650, while students from grades 6 to 8 receive ₹1,950. The government has set September 30 as the last date for completing the E-KYC process.

A Total of 2,38,660 Students Eligible for Scholarship

At the Mehsana Mamlatdar office, parents and children were standing in line in front of the supply department window for E-KYC. Similar issues were seen at banks where Aadhaar was not linked or Aadhaar cards were not updated. 

In the district, a total of 2,38,660 students are eligible for scholarships—1.75 lakh students from grades 1 to 8 and 63,360 students from grades 9 to 12. Over the past week, more than one lakh parents have been seen waiting in long queues for E-KYC to secure their child’s scholarship.

‘We Don’t Want Such Benefits’

Poonamben Marwadi, who came to Mehsana from Ahmedabad for E-KYC, shared with Source, “We have been staying in Mehsana for the past eight days just for this work. We’ve been leaving our children’s schools on hold and facing challenges for eight days. Whenever our turn comes, the window closes. If the work gets done, fine; otherwise, we don’t want any benefits. 

If we have to endure this kind of trouble, we don’t need the government’s benefits. Are we supposed to die of hunger and thirst in this heat? What’s the point of such benefits when we have to leave small children hungry and thirsty? There isn’t even a proper water facility here.”

‘I’ve Been Coming for 4 Days Without Any Resolution’

Baldevbhai Rawat from Piludara shared with Source, “I’ve been coming here for 4 days to get the E-KYC done for my baby. It’s very difficult in this scorching heat, and what can we do when small children are exposed to the sun? 

There’s no arrangement for standing in the shade. We are laborers, but everything has been put on hold for this E-KYC process.” Dharmesh Nai, who also came for E-KYC, said, “I’ve been coming for a month now. Just when my turn comes at 2 PM, the window closes.”

‘Baby Fainted While Standing in Line’

Deepakbhai from Mehsana shared, “I came to get the E-KYC done with my baby. While standing in line under the hot sun, my baby felt dizzy and fainted. I had to take her to the shade, give her water, and sit her near a fan. After that, I continued to stand in line. 

We arrived at 10 in the morning. Even before this, we had come, but the officials told us to come back another day, so we returned the next day.”

‘This is My Third Attempt, Bringing Four Children with Me’

Manasag Thakor from Hardesan shared, “I have come from Hardesan. This is my third attempt. The heat is unbearable, and we are left exhausted. We stand in line from the morning, but the windows are rarely opened on time. 

I have brought four children from my own family. Even minor errors in Aadhaar cards or ration cards cause unnecessary trouble. The heat makes us dizzy, and there is not even a basic provision like a tin roof for shade.”

‘Carrying a School Bag, Parents Say – I’ve Been Coming for Seven Days’

Ashokbhai from Mehsana told Source, “We have been standing in line since 7 in the morning. I’ve been dealing with this for seven days, and whenever my turn comes, the window closes. 

At times like this, the work should continue throughout the day, but they work according to their own schedule. People are coming from villages by buses and private vehicles, paying fares. The government should make changes in the system. I had to bring my baby directly from school because they told us the baby was needed for the E-KYC process, so we had to bring her here.”

What Did the Mamlatdar Say?

When we spoke to Mamlatdar Urvish Valand about the issue, he stated that a proposal has been sent to allocate two IDs at the Mamlatdar office and one at the municipal civic center to reduce the crowding for E-KYC at a single location.