In Ludhiana, Punjab, the continued freeze on issuing new ration cards has left many eligible families without access to subsidized foodgrains under the public distribution system (PDS). Despite the government's recent relaxation of eligibility norms under the second phase of e-KYC verification, no new blue card registrations have occurred in the district for the past 2-3 years. Currently, around 16 lakh beneficiaries are supported through approximately 4.4 lakh ration cards, but officials admit that the number of beneficiaries has already exceeded the sanctioned allocation. This situation arises from a cap based on outdated population estimates, which has not been revised despite an increase in eligible households. Daily wage earners like Raj Kumar and Sunita Devi express frustration, as they qualify for assistance but cannot access it without a ration card. Experts highlight a structural gap between eligibility and actual coverage, with district food and supplies controller Sartaaj Singh Cheema indicating that any changes depend on updated population data from the upcoming Census. Until then, thousands remain in a paradoxical situation: eligible on paper but excluded in practice.