One Nation, one ration card scheme, Here's what It means

Ground Report | News Desk

The central government's One Nation, One Ration Card scheme is proving to be very important amidst the ongoing lockdown of the country due to Coronavirus crisis. Under one nation, one ration scheme, Modi government has linked five more states of the country with this scheme.

According to the new announcement, now the scheme can be availed in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Daman-Diu also. Now there are 17 states in the country which will be connected with this scheme.

What is One Nation, One Ration Card scheme?

Government had last year launched the project for the inter-state portability of ration cards between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and between Maharashtra and Gujarat, as part of its ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ scheme. Since ration cards are issued by state governments, this implied that beneficiaries could procure food grains only from the designated ration shops within the concerned state. If a beneficiary were to shift to another state, he/she would need to apply for a new ration card in the second state. There were other complications. For instance, after marriage, a woman needed to get her name removed from the ration card issued to her parents, and get it added to the ration card issued to her husband’s family.

As per the 2011 Census, 4.1 crore people were inter-state migrants and 1.4 crore people migrated (inter and intra-state) in search of better opportunities.

What is a ration card?

Ration card is a document issued by the state government, to be used for the purchase of essential commodities from fair price shops under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).

Groundreport.in explains you how one nation, one ration will benefit people

Worker and poor class will benefit

There is no need to get a new ration card made under this scheme. The new scheme of ration cards has been implemented in 12 states from January 1 'One country, one ration card' is an ambitious scheme of the Modi government, under which PDS holders across the country are allowed to use the public distribution system in any corner of the country. The shops will get their share ration.

How to be identified

Under one Nation, one ration scheme, the beneficiaries of PDS will be identified on their Aadhar card with an electronic point of sale (PoS) device. To implement this scheme across the country, POS machines will be installed at all PDS shops. As states report 100% POS machines at PDS shops, they will be included in the 'One Nation, One Ration Card' scheme.

Any legal citizen of India can apply

Any legal citizen of India can apply for this ration card. Children under 18 years of age will be added to their parents' ration card. These ration card holders will get 5 kg of rice at the rate of 3 rupees and wheat at the rate of 2 rupees.

So far 17 states have been included

The 'One Nation, One Ration Card' scheme will start from 1 June 2020. Old ration card will also be valid in this scheme. The 'One Nation, One Ration Card' facility has been introduced in 12 states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Jharkhand and Tripura. Now this number has increased to 17 with the newly added 5 states.

What is National food security Act 2013?

This is a law to provide nutritional security by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people.

The main objective of the scheme is to introduce nation-wide portability of ration card holders under National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), through ‘One Nation One Ration Card' system. This system enables the migratory ration card holders to lift their entitled food grains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) of their choice in the country by using their existing/same ration card issued in their home States/ UTs after biometric authentication on electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices installed at the FPSs. So far, the facility of inter-State/national portability under One Nation One Ration Card plan has been made functional in 12 States. Further, integration of remaining States/ UTs depends on their readiness to implement the same.

The Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is governed under the provisions of the National Food security Act, 2013 (NFSA); which is implemented in all States/ UTs. The NFSA provides coverage for about 81 crore persons to receive subsidised foodgrains through TPDS, which is about 2/3'd of the country's population as per census 2011. Presently, under NFSA, all States/ UTs collectively, have issued about a total of23 crore ration cards to nearly 80 crore beneficiaries.

Further, TPDS is operated in joint responsibilities of central States/UT Govenments where in inter-alia the operational responsibilities of identification of eligible households/ beneficiaries under NFSA as per the criteria evolved by them, issuance of ration cards, etc' rests with the concerned State/UTs Governments. Therefore as and when any matter/issues, including request for new ration card is received in this Department, the same is forwarded to concerned States/UTs Government for appropriate action at their end.

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