Tamil Nadu  has implemented the popular  one nation one ration card scheme from today,  1st October, 2020 Already 25 states including Andhra Pradesh,  Kerala,  Maharashtra, Karnataka,  Madhya Pradesh have implemented one nation one ration card scheme.  One nation One ration card is to be implemented all over the nation by March next year.  Honourable Prime Minister had announced that National Food Security Act  beneficiaries can avail 5kg rice/wheat per person per month free of cost till November 2020 in vieI of ongoing pandemic situation . This entitlement is over and above their regular NFSA entitlement. The ration card portability, one of the key feature of this scheme, will help labourers and other employees who are transferred from one place to other to utilise the nearby ration shops for their monthly ration entitlements.

Integrated Management of Public Distribution System was started from 2018. The main objective of the scheme is to introduce nation-wide portability of ration card holders under National Food Security Act , 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 ration card issued in their home States after biometric authentication on electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices installed at the Fair price shops.   

There are 34,773 fair price shops and 2.09crore family cards in Tamil Nadu with more than 6.75crore beneficiaries. In Tamil Nadu,  all ration cards were converted to digital smart cards in 2017. In the state,  biometric authentication of electronic point of sale-  ePOS  devices have already been operationalised . All the existing ePOS  devices were upgraded and integrated with biometric finger print reader. This was done in all fair price shops under Public distribution system. Shri Tarun, a government official said that  one nation one ration card system will be really beneficial for people who shift residences from one place to other. It will help people who have been transferred to other districts or other states to buy ration items through portable ration card. Earlier ration card had to be surrendered and fresh ration card applied for other state transfer. In Tiruchirapalli, public distribution shop dealers have been instructed to give fortified rice along with  regular rice. They have been asked to give 5 plus 15 or 10 plus 10 Kg of fortified and regular rice and make sure that by the end of October,  supply of regular rice should be completed.

One nation one ration card scheme will definitely help people who were forced to shift their residence for employment or other purposes. Migrant labourers were affected by covid 19 lockdown and they found it difficult to utilise the essential items given through public distribution shops. Once ration card portability is implemented all over the country,  it is going to really benefit labourers who had to shift the place of residence for jobs.

Free rice through PDS

fortified rice bag

 

 

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