The Government of India is working on a plan to start “One Nation One Ration Card” scheme for the beneficiaries, mainly migrant workers, to access the Public Distribution System from any PDS shop across the nation.
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan held a meeting on 27th June 2019 regarding the scheme with the food secretaries as well as other officials of state governments, Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), State Warehousing Corporations (SWCs) and Food Corporation of India (FCI).
While speaking to media the minister said, “The target is to finish the formalities of the scheme in 1 year. The availability of Point of Sale (PoS) machines need to be ensured at all the PDS shops to implement the scheme. PoS machines are available at all PDS shops in different states like Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and few other others but 100% availability is essential to provide the benefit across the country.”
Paswan said the scheme aims to provide freedom to the beneficiaries, as they will not be tied to single PDS shop, lessen their dependence on shop owners and curb corruption. The minister also said that the main beneficiaries will be migrant workers who shift to other states in search of better job opportunities.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution that will execute the scheme, the Integrated Management of PDS (IMPDS), under which recipients can get their share of food grain from any district, is operational in Gujarat, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Jharkhand and Tripura.
In the meeting held yesterday, the other states assured that they will implement the IMPDS as early as possible. Addressing the meeting, Paswan told that the work done by the Department of Food & Public Distribution is a lifeline for around 81 crore beneficiaries, with 612 lakh tonnes of food grains kept in warehouses of SWCs, CWC, FCI and private godowns for distribution yearly. Around 78% of Fair Price Shops have so far been automated by installing electronic PoS devices, he said.
Paswan stressed that information technology must be used right from the time of purchase of foodgrains till its distribution to boost overall efficiency and curb corruption.
