Ration Card Portability

Context: Ration card portability has recorded an upward trajectory with over 28 crore transactions recorded.

About Ration Card Portability

• One Nation One Ration Card facility was started as inter-State portability of ration cards in 4 States w.e.f. August 2019. As of 2023, all 35 states/UTs have implemented the scheme.
• More than 125 crore portability transactions have been recorded under the ONORC  in the country delivering more than 241 lakh tonnes foodgrains since its inception.
• Statistics: 20.06 crore ration cards covering 80 crore beneficiaries have been digitized. 99.8 per cent of ration shops are automated with electronic point of sale devices (e-pos) and Aadhaar seeding of more than 98.8 per cent of ration card has been executed, as of December 2023.

What Is One Nation One Ration Card Scheme?

• About: It facilitates nationwide portability of ration cards under National Food Security Act (NFSA).
• Objective:  To empower poor beneficiaries especially migrants, to avail subsidised ration across country.
• Nodal agency:  Department of Food And Public Distribution, Ministry Of Consumer Affairs
• Process: Nationwide portability of ration cards is enabled  through,
  • The implementation of IT-driven system by installation of ePoS devices at Fair Price Shops.
  • Seeding of Aadhaar number of beneficiaries with their ration cards 
  • Operationalization of biometrically authenticated ePoS transactions in the State/UTs.

Features of One Nation One Ration Card Scheme

• All  beneficiaries, especially migrants can claim either full or part foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) in the country through an existing ration card with biometric/Aadhaar authentication.
• Family members of the beneficiary can now  claim the balance of foodgrains on the same ration card. 
• The beneficiaries now have the option  to choose their own dealer. If the beneficiary suspects foul play in allocation, they  can now  switch to another FPS shop instantly.
• Aadhaar authentication can be done by using just their finger prints or iris based identification. No need to bring ration card or aadhar card always.

Continue Reading: One Nation One Ration Card Scheme (ONORCS)

News source: The Economic Times