One nation One Ration Card scheme 29/06/2019 – Posted in: Daily News

ONE NATION ONE RATION CARD SCHEME

 

For: Preliminary

Topics covered: All about the scheme – aim, features, National Food Security Act 2013

 

News Flash

The central government is targeting to launch the “One Nation One Ration Card” scheme in one year.

 

Aim

  • The scheme will ensure no poor person is deprived of getting subsidized food.
  • Under the scheme, the subsidized food is secured for every poor person when he shifts from one place to another.
  • This will also remove the chance of anyone holding more than one ration card to avail of benefits.

 

One nation One Ration Card scheme: Highlights

  • The card will help in accessing the Public Distribution System from any PDS shop across India and will especially benefit the migrant workers who switch states seeking better work opportunities.
  • Currently, over 75% of Fair Price Shops have been equipped with electronic PoS (Point of sale) devices.
  • The PoS machines are available across states such as Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, and a few others.
  • The work done by the Department of Food and Public Distribution benefits over 81 crore people and 612 lakh tonnes of food grain goes for distribution every year.
  • The food grain is stored in the warehouses of FCI, CWC, SWCs and private godowns.
  • Currently, the Integrated Management of PDS, under which beneficiaries can avail food grain from any district, is operational in several states such as Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Tripura.

 

Ration Card

Ration cards are an official document issued by state governments in India to households that are eligible to purchase subsidized food grain from the Public Distribution System (under the National Food Security Act).

There are two types of ration cards

  1. Priority ration cards – priority ration cards are issued to households that meet the eligibility criteria set by their state government. Each priority household is entitled to 5 kilograms of food grain per member.
  2. Antyodaya (AAY) ration cards are issued to the “poorest of poor” households. Each AAY household is entitled to 35 kilograms of food grain.

 

National Food Security Act, 2013

  • It is also known as the Right to Food Act.
  • NFS is an Act of the Parliament of India which aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of Indians.
  • It includes the Midday Meal Scheme, Integrated Child Development Services scheme and the Public Distribution System.
  • The Midday Meal Scheme and the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme are universal in nature whereas the PDS will reach about two-thirds of the population (75% in rural areas and 50% in urban areas).
  • Pregnant women, lactating mothers, and certain categories of children are eligible for daily free cereals.

 

Source: Times of India

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