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New Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
10 lakh people go without ration as e-KYC wrecks 'access' in Gujarat
AHMEDABAD: The National Food Security Act mandates the State to guarantee food access for every citizen, from the womb stage to adulthood. However, the system meant to safeguard this right in Gujarat is cracking. Startling data from the State's own IPDS portal reveals that nearly 10 lakh beneficiaries were not able to receive ration during April, May, and June 2025, largely due to incomplete KYC formalities. This massive lapse exposes the gap between policy promises and on-ground delivery, leaving lakhs of vulnerable citizens battling hunger amid bureaucratic barriers. According to the Anna Suraksha Adhikar Abhiyan, the Centre's NDPS portal lists 3.82 crore beneficiaries in Gujarat. Yet, in the last three months, the number of actual beneficiaries has hovered between just 3.72 crore and 3.76 crore -- a shortfall of nearly 10 lakh people. The primary culprit behind this exclusion? Delays and glitches in mandatory e-KYC. But that's not the only red flag. The growing number of silent ration cards adds another layer of crisis. In the past three months alone, Gujarat has recorded over 4 lakh silent cards -- ration cards that get automatically deactivated if not used for three months. Anna Suraksha Adhikar Abhiyan Coordinator Pankti Jog said 'On paper, it looks like people have stopped collecting rations. However, on the ground, families claim they were turned away by ration dealers due to incomplete e-KYC — leaving them without food and branded inactive by the system.' 'This raises a sharp and pressing question: if people are being denied ration due to e-KYC issues and then their cards are marked silent, who is accountable for pushing lakhs into involuntary hunger? With each ration card typically linked to three or more family members, the real number of affected individuals could be over a million,' she said. In 2013, the Parliament passed the National Food Security Act (NFSA), aiming to bring every Indian, from children in Anganwadis to urban poor, under a legal food safety net. It brought under its ambit flagship schemes like the Mid-Day Meal, Anganwadi nutrition, and the Public Distribution System (PDS). Gujarat implemented the Act from April 1, 2016, promising subsidised grains — wheat at ₹2/kg, rice at ₹3/kg, and coarse grains at ₹1/kg — to 75% of its rural and 50% of its urban population. States were also allowed to expand this with pulses, gram, and oil for added nutrition. The month-on-month data reveals the cracks widening. In March 2025, out of 76,94,736 ration cards, 3,72,92,987 beneficiaries. But by April, even with a marginal increase to 77,01,339 ration cards, the number of beneficiaries slightly dipped to 3,72,71,559. May showed no major deviation, with 3,72,92,987 beneficiaries again, holding steady. However, the crisis exploded in June. Despite 73,99,129 ration cards in circulation, only 3,08,86,997 people received their entitlement. The burden of compliance fell squarely on the ration cardholders.
Muscat Daily
26-02-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Takaful Oman drives digital innovation in insurance
Muscat – In its continuous pursuit of leadership in Oman's insurance sector, Takaful Oman Insurance SAOG has launched its comprehensive digital transformation strategy to enhance efficiency, transparency and customer experience by leveraging the latest technologies. The strategy was unveiled during a press conference organized by the company to introduce its newly upgraded website and a suite of smart solutions aimed at streamlining policy issuance, claims processing and customer interactions, marking a significant advancement in the sector. With over 200,000 digitally issued policies since 2023 on its digital insurance platform and more than 1,000 claims processed since December 2024 on its digital claims platform, Takaful Oman continues to set new standards for speed, efficiency, and reliability. Its digital-first approach aligns with Oman Vision 2040, reinforcing its role in driving financial technology and national economic progress. As part of its commitment to ongoing innovation, the company is also implementing a next-generation ERP system to streamline financial operations and improve efficiency at scale. Additionally, by leveraging data-driven insights, Takaful Oman is working towards hyper-personalized insurance solutions that cater to individual customer needs, ensuring a tailored and seamless experience. The company is also developing a next-generation policy administration system for life and medical insurance, reinforcing its foundation for future growth. Commenting on these advancements, Mr. Sulaiman Hamed Al Harthi, Board Chairman of Takaful Oman Insurance SAOG, stated, 'Innovation is embedded in our approach. Our digital transformation is not just about operational improvements—it is about equipping our customers with secure, efficient and transparent insurance solutions tailored to their evolving needs thereby reshaping the industry and supporting Oman's transition to a knowledge-based digital economy.' Echoing this commitment, Mr. Neelmani Bhardwaj, Chief Executive Officer of Takaful Oman Insurance SAOG, added, 'Our digital transformation is a testament to our relentless focus on customer experience. We are building an ecosystem where ease of access and security are paramount. This evolution cements our leadership in digital insurance and underscores our drive to set new industry standards.' Takaful Oman's digital innovations include iCAS (Intelligent Claims Administration System), an integrated claims registration system that has significantly reduced claim processing time by over 50% and a live video streaming tool for vehicle inspections, eliminating the need for physical assessments while improving accuracy and reducing costs. The company has also introduced a state-of-the-art website and customer portal, enabling seamless policy purchases, renewals and real-time claims tracking. Furthermore, the Instant Policy Distribution System (IPDS) seamlessly integrates brokers, agents, and banks, enabling rapid policy issuance. Meanwhile, an AI-driven pre-policy digital inspection system ensures policy authenticity through real-time verification and automated damage detection, allowing policies to be issued in under 3 minutes. With an eye on the future, Takaful Oman continues to explore emerging technologies and innovative solutions that will redefine the insurance landscape. By staying ahead of industry trends and anticipating evolving customer needs, the company remains poised to drive meaningful change, ensuring that insurance in Oman remains agile, secure and customer-centric.
Mid East Info
25-02-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Takaful Oman Drives Digital Innovation in Insurance - Middle East Business News and Information
Muscat, 24 February 2025: In its continuous pursuit of leadership in Oman's insurance sector, Takaful Oman Insurance SAOG has launched its comprehensive digital transformation strategy to enhance efficiency, transparency and customer experience by leveraging the latest technologies. The strategy was unveiled during a press conference organized by the company to introduce its newly upgraded website and a suite of smart solutions aimed at streamlining policy issuance, claims processing and customer interactions, marking a significant advancement in the sector. With over 200,000 digitally issued policies since 2023 on its digital insurance platform and more than 1,000 claims processed since December 2024 on its digital claims platform, Takaful Oman continues to set new standards for speed, efficiency, and reliability. Its digital-first approach aligns with Oman Vision 2040, reinforcing its role in driving financial technology and national economic progress. As part of its commitment to ongoing innovation, the company is also implementing a next-generation ERP system to streamline financial operations and improve efficiency at scale. Additionally, by leveraging data-driven insights, Takaful Oman is working towards hyper-personalized insurance solutions that cater to individual customer needs, ensuring a tailored and seamless experience. The company is also developing a next-generation policy administration system for life and medical insurance, reinforcing its foundation for future growth. Commenting on these advancements, Mr. Sulaiman Hamed Al Harthi, Board Chairman of Takaful Oman Insurance SAOG, stated, 'Innovation is embedded in our approach. Our digital transformation is not just about operational improvements—it is about equipping our customers with secure, efficient and transparent insurance solutions tailored to their evolving needs thereby reshaping the industry and supporting Oman's transition to a knowledge-based digital economy.' Echoing this commitment, Mr. Neelmani Bhardwaj, Chief Executive Officer of Takaful Oman Insurance SAOG, added, 'Our digital transformation is a testament to our relentless focus on customer experience. We are building an ecosystem where ease of access and security are paramount. This evolution cements our leadership in digital insurance and underscores our drive to set new industry standards.' Takaful Oman's digital innovations include iCAS (Intelligent Claims Administration System), an integrated claims registration system that has significantly reduced claim processing time by over 50% and a live video streaming tool for vehicle inspections, eliminating the need for physical assessments while improving accuracy and reducing costs. The company has also introduced a state-of-the-art website and customer portal, enabling seamless policy purchases, renewals and real-time claims tracking. Furthermore, the Instant Policy Distribution System (IPDS) seamlessly integrates brokers, agents, and banks, enabling rapid policy issuance. Meanwhile, an AI-driven pre-policy digital inspection system ensures policy authenticity through real-time verification and automated damage detection, allowing policies to be issued in under 3 minutes. With an eye on the future, Takaful Oman continues to explore emerging technologies and innovative solutions that will redefine the insurance landscape. By staying ahead of industry trends and anticipating evolving customer needs, the company remains poised to drive meaningful change, ensuring that insurance in Oman remains agile, secure and customer-centric.
