Central govt. has announced to launch One Nation One Ration Card for all the citizens of India. This would be done to ensure that no person is deprived of getting subsidized food grains under Food Security Scheme when he migrates from 1 place to another. Accordingly, the linking of Ration Card with Aadhar Card would reduce corruption and enable beneficiaries to get Rashan from any PDS shop across the country.
In some states, One Nation One Ration Card is already functional in the name of Integrated Management of PDS (IMPDS). Union govt. is also planning to create a real time online database of ration cards on the lines of GSTIN.
The primary purpose is to ensure food security and giving freedom to beneficiaries to purchase ration from any PDS shop.
One Nation One Ration Card by Central Govt.
National portability of Ration cards will ensure all beneficiaries especially the migrants in getting access to Public Distribution System (PDS) across the nation. So the Narendra Modi govt. is working towards the One Nation One Ration Card Scheme. PDS is creating a central repository of Ration Cards to help national level de-duplication. People would get their quota of food grains from any PDS shop located nearby them in any district across the nation.
Ration Card holders would not be tied to any of the PDS shop and thus would reduce their dependence on shop owners. The biggest beneficiaries would be migrant labourers who moves to other states to seek better job opportunities and will ensure their food security.
Digitization of ration card i.e linking of ration card with aadhar card is an essential process. The availability of PoS (Point of Sale) machines need to be ensured at all PDS shops to implement the 1 Nation 1 Ration Card scheme. The central govt. has set a target to complete the formalities of scheme within 1 year. Around 78% of Fair Price Shops (FPS) have so far been automated by installing electronic PoS devices.
IMPDS system is already applicable in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana and Tripura. Here people get rashan on subsidy from any district in state. Department of Food and Public Distribution is a lifeline for beneficiaries. Under this department, 612 lakh tonnes of food grains is stored in warehouses of CWC, SWC, FCI and private godowns and is distributed to 81 crore people annually.
Other Initiatives along with Digitization of Ration Card in India
The central govt. is also working on some other initiatives along with the digitization of ration cards in India which are as follows:-
- Effective implementation of National Food Security Act
- End to end computerization
- Transparency in storage and distribution of foodgrains
- Synergising of all SWC, FCI and CWC depots with Depot Online System (DOS)
Information Technology must be used right from the time of purchase of foodgrains till distribution to increase overall efficiency.